For Many Assad Supporters, Other Paths Appear Riskier
Syrians opposed to Assad’s rule often get more media attention, but a visit to Damascus shows that a sizeable — and perhaps decisive — part of the population supports, or at least doesn’t resist, his remaining in power. Some even blame parents who bring their children to protests — to “get shot and killed” — for fueling violence.
DAMASCUS — Iraq’s Saddam Hussein had Tikritis. Hosni Mubarak had Egypt’s ruling party elite and their patronage networks. Libya’s Gadhafi had Sirte and a smattering of other towns.
In Syria, a visit here makes clear there is still a sizeable — and perhaps decisive — part of the Syrian population that supports, or at least doesn’t resist, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule, although the opposition often gets more media attention.
Some worry about losing jobs, patronage or connections if the Assad regime survives, or even hangs on for a while. Some dread the Iraq scenario: sectarian bloodletting and chaos.
Others fear what might come after Assad: a change in the balance of power between the United States and Iran; a foreign-backed carving up of Syria; and they fear an extremist Sunni Muslim government bent on ridding the country of its Christian and Druze minorities, and a campaign of killing and/or forced relocation of Assad’s Alawite brethren.
