[DoughtyOne]

I’m not sure how Assad can be seen as a friend of Christians in the region.

He supports Hezbollah, and Hezbollah is now the majority portion of the Lebanese government. That is right isn’t it?

Prior to this the Christians were a majority of the government in Lebanon.

Assad has also helped facilitate Hezbollah munition movements into the south of Lebanon, on it’s sovereign soil.

Please explain how this guy is a big friend of Christians.

Perhaps you’re right, but I sure don’t see it at this point.

[redgolum]

He allows them to live in Syria. The US Military doesn’t even do that in Iraq.

[Cronos]

Syria has 10% officially Christians. In reality there's a lot more -- refugees from Iraq (Iraq in 2003 had 2 million Christians, in 2010, 400,000 and dropping).

Both Assad (Jr & Sr) and Saddam didn't care about religion as long as you didn't threaten their rule

Christians for 1400 years had learnt to do just that.

However if the Islamists come to power, then Christian churches are the target.

Assad is a big friend to the Christians for this reason -- the alternative (the "rebels") are Saudi/Oman sponsored Islamists who will kill all Christians in Syria.