Epstein Secrets

rtunity the regime once possessed is being jeopardised by its actions. Brutal repression has overshadowed belated, half-hearted reform suggestions; Bashar has squandered credibility; his regime has lost much of the legitimacy derived from its foreign policy. The international community, largely from

t did not have to be so. The protest movement is strong and getting stronger but yet to reach critical mass. Unlike toppled Arab leaders, President Bashar Assad enjoyed some genuine popularity. Many Syrians dread chaos and their nation's fragmentation. But whatever opportunity the regime once possessed is

ss. Unlike toppled Arab leaders, President Bashar Assad enjoyed some genuine popularity. Many Syrians dr

ated that these revolutions were externally instigated by states who covet Central Asian resources, though he would not specifically identify them. Tajikistan's President, Emomali Rahmon, told his Parliament on April 20, 2011: Much has been said and written about the possibility of the repetition of such

for other world leaders or their ambassadors. Only in the past twelve months has he met with Pope Benedict XVI, Middle East Peace Envoy Tony Blair, Bashar Al Assad of Syria, President Tabu& Vazquez of Uruguay, President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines, President Hamid Karazai of Afghanistan, Yemeni President

I, Middle East Peace Envoy Tony Blair, Bashar Al Assad of Syria, President Tabu& Vazquez of Uruguay, Pr

sident Nicolas Sarkozy, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed, Kazakh President, Nursultan Nazarbayev as well as the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. The list of ambassadors he met in the same period possibly rivals that of Saudi Arabia's own Foreign Minister

n's enormous economic potential with corruption, mismanagement, and needless diplomatic spats, and sends money and weapons to Hezbollah, Hamas, and Bashar al-Assad's goons killing the Syrian opposition? Or the Iran of a young, dynamic populace hungry for democracy, dignity, and jobs, a population that, as Nicho

ives. Remember that the dynastic regime of the al Assads in Syria was built on an east bloc model during

et state collapsed, it led to a rash of ethnic and regional wars across the Caucasus and Central Asia -- tens of thousands of people were killed in Tajikistan alone -- while in Yugoslavia, ethnic war resulted in 140,000 lost lives. Remember that the dynastic regime of the al Assads in Syria was built on a

involve a loose coalition of Sunnis including elements of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists. Though Israel far preferred Syrian President Bashar al Assad to them, al Assad himself was shifting his behavior. The more pressure he came under, the more he became dependent on Iran. Israel began facing the

FTA_R1_00298505 EFTA01884024 regime of the al Assad family is in serious trouble. As mentioned, the

security concern, but saw yet more U.S. troops massed now on its western border. With U.S. forces also in the CIS republics, notably Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Iran has been encircled by the USA on its own continent. A bitter joke has made the rounds in Tehran for some years now: "there are just two count

secretary-general Annan's plan for a political settlement was announced, the Turkish leadership made it clear that there could be no solution with Assad in power. With this policy of direct confrontation, Ankara not only strove to obtain the moral high ground. It also sought to precipitate the fall

overnment's first moves after it began shooting protesters, for example, was to expel all foreign journalists. Several weeks ago, the government of Tajikistan blocked YouTube and reportedly shut down communications networks in a remote region where government forces were battling an opposition group. The