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Sanctions Pose Growing Threat to Syria's Assad
(New York Times) Nada Bakri - The Syrian economy is buckling under the pressure of sanctions by the West and a continuing popular uprising. Syria's currency is weakening, its recession is expanding, its tourism industry is wrecked and international sanctions are affecting most essential sectors. American and Turkish officials say that the government can probably survive through the end of the year. But they now believe it is possible that the toll of the sanctions and protests could bring down Mr. Assad in 6 to 18 months. "We're all waiting for the thing that will crack them," an Obama administration official said. "And it will be the economy that will wake everybody up, both those who support him, and Assad and his circle." Revenues from oil and gas exports, which account for up to a third of state revenues and are the single biggest source of foreign currency, will dry up at the beginning of November, when an EU ban on imports will fully come into force.