[Billyv]

In history, when a country is conquered one either destroys the ruling elite and educated/religious class in its entirety and replaces with conquering theology and leadership or one leaves the figureheads in place that play ball, leave religion and education alone (establishing new educational philosophy) and leave the common man to live out his years a citizen of the new state.

I believe Assad found and conducted himself largely as the second type of ruler always balancing between with a very firm hand. Left each community to their own as long as they were productive Syrians first.

Just my view from the outside looking in. NIKKs posts from within Syria seem to reflect that view IMO.

[caww]

Assad did not start this and it was he who warned the protests were being taken over, that terrorists were infiltrating the country. I watched this from the beginning...and he was right. Now that's not to say he's the best leader out there, heck even Putin doesn't 'like' the guy. But he did know how to manage his people and their differences....and they aren't exactly those with mild tempers. I recall a woman who traveled the world and she said we are doing the wrong thing going into these countries to change the people and their leadership. That there was no Arab Spring that it was started from outside sources going in and 'organizing' the people.