[PapaBear3625]

The lesson of Libya: if you lose you die. Expect Assad to operate according to the viewpoint that unless he wins, he and his entire clan will die. It's likely that this will turn into a bloody Shiite/Sunni civil war.

Thanks, Barry.

[hampdenkid]

You nailed it. The Islamist opposition to Assad has already announced that they intend to slaughter him, his wife, and his children. Frankly, were I in his shoes, my response to that would be far more oppressive than his is now.

As to whether Assad will fall, that pretty much depends on whether he retains the support of his Iranian handlers. If they continue to prop him up, they will so inform Imam Obama, and Imam Obama will keep the West at bay.

Simply put: the Iranian mullahs and Imam Obama are fellow tribesmen. So far, they have succeeded magnificently in bringing down the Mid East governments most friendly to the US. They will not stop until the Iranian takeover is complete.