I read one intriguing analysis today regarding Syria and Baby Assad. You've heard of "suicide by cop"? Basically someone who wants to die pulls a gun on a cop and gets the cop to do it for him.
The theory about Syria opines that Baby Assad may be doing the same thing. He was never meant to take over from his dad (#1-son got killed). He's an opthamologist who lived the good life until the "crown" was thrust upon him. He really isn't cut out for this dictator stuff. Not to mention his party is only about a 10% minority in Syria which can significantly shorten one's life expectancy.
Could it be that he's maneuvering toward the day when he's "driven" out of Syria and "forced" to go live in luxurious exile in the salons of Paris???
Oh no Br'er Jihadi, don't throw me into that thar luxurious Paris exile!
Assad has never had control of Hezbollah, which runs that country in cink with the Baathists. He is a puppet leader. I don't think he's stupid. He'll be killed by Hezbollah if they feel he's selling them out in any way. He's expendable, from their perspective. Of course, we're all expendable, from their perspective.