Heimosota ?

Kansa on noussut Syyriassa taisteluun demokratian puolesta. Vai onko pikemmin niin, että sunnit ovat ryhtyneet taisteluun alawiitteja vastaan. Onko niin, että jos alawiitit häviävät, he menettävät kunniansa, valtansa ja mahdollisesti henkensä, ja uudet tyrannit korvaavat alawiitit. Alawiittien tappio olisi tappio myös alawiittien liittolaisille ? Kristittyjen pako Hedelmällisen Puolikuun alueelta kiihtyisi ?

Despite tentative reports about emerging fissures within some army units, the majority of Syrian special forces come from the minority Alawite sect of President Assad and are the spearhead of his regime.

They are in a fight for their own survival, as well as the survival of their community, not just the political leadership.

We will not see killings on the same scale as Hama, but it is clear that the regime is prepared to use massive force to crush the protesters.

The regime has other supporters - members of the Alawite and other minority groups, including Christians, Druze, and some Sunnis whom the regime has co-opted into the power structure over the years.

BBC tosin elättelee toiveita uudesta syyrialaisesta kansalaisyhteiskunnasta:

The protesters have worked hard to stress a non-sectarian, non-tribal, non-violent agenda.

Although it is too early to know the exact composition of the protesters, a new Syrian identity appears to be emerging, anchored in inclusiveness and ethnic tolerance.

On Tuesday, more than 100 Syrian intellectuals who live abroad signed a petition condemning the killings and the brutal measures. The intellectuals include Sunnis, Alawites, Christians, Druze and Kurds.

This is a testament to the maturity of Syrian society, despite decades of repression.

En usko.