(Atlantic Monthly) Max Fisher - Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Monday used the word "freedom" once, "conspiracy" eight times, and "vandals" - his favorite expressions for the protesters - 18 times. But what is significant about Assad's speech is that it happened at all. His speech may be, like the other Arab dictator speeches that came before his, a desperate last-ditch effort to save an ailing regime. The sudden and severe economic downturn will exacerbate protests, and ultimately limit Assad's ability to pay military and security forces.
2011-06-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive