o come home," but "many refugees say they are not ready to return" as long as President Bashar al-Assad "and his government remain in power." While al-Assad "appears to be secure and the big battles have subsided" since protests calling for his ouster, "Syria is a shattered country, with Mr. al-Assad rul

tarian assistance experts, however, "are wary of the strategy, saying economic sanctions alone, no matter how punishing, will do little to bring Mr. al-Assad to the negotiating table and will only worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria." Critics also warn that the Administration "will waste the broadene

march to regional influence continues apace—in Syria, where it is winning a stunning victory in partnership with Hezbollah and Bashar "the Butcher" al-Assad; in Iraq, where its influence is growing in the wake of America's departure; and even in the Gulf, where some local leaders see the writing on the

march to regional influence continues apace—in Syria, where it is winning a stunning victory in partnership with Hezbollah and Bashar "the Butcher" al-Assad; in Iraq, where its influence is growing in the wake of America's departure; and even in the Gulf, where some local leaders see the writing on the

e Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Organization of American States, and to defend embattled allies like Syria's 8ashar al-Assad. There is also growing replica- tion of what might be called authoritarian best practices, vividly on display in the new Chinese law on nongovernme

ing" riots. EFTA00701867 It is quite obvious that the uprising in Syria largely rests on Sunni petrodollars and a desire to undermine the secular al-Assad regime, which gravitates towards Shiites and which is an ally of Iran, although there are also many internal reasons for the discontent in Syria. A

ic today. What happened was necessary and inevitable because the situation had reached a deadlock. The scenes we are watching now in Syria, and the al-Assad regime clinging to power even at the expense of the deaths of thousands of martyrs, is evidence that whatever change is desired will always have a

c today. What happened was necessary and inevitable because the situation had reached a deadlock. The scenes we are watching now in Syria, and the al-Assad regime clinging to power even at the expense of the deaths of thousands of martyrs, is evidence EFTA_R1_00228279 EFTA01841743 that whatever chan