When Syria was engulfed in widespread protests during the “Arab Spring” in 2011, which later turned into a brutal civil war, many experts confidently argued that the days of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Damascus, were numbered.
Assad, a doctor by training who was never expected to become Syria’s ruler, was seen by many as weak. One that will be engulfed by a wave of mass protests. One who is likely to join Gaddafi and Mubarak… But 12 years later, Assad is still in charge. His fist does not extend over all the dunes of the Syrian desert, but Assad is currently sitting on a stable chair of the country’s president, not a suitcase, as it was until relatively recently.
The awareness that Bashar is here to stay in Damascus has also reached the leaders of most Arab countries. They, understanding the situation on the political chessboard of the Middle East, have decided to call Assad back into their fold. In May, Assad attended the Arab League summit after an absence of more than a decade. It became the most convincing evidence yet of the strength and endurance of his regime.
However, the acceptance of the real situation in Arab capitals was not the only factor that led to Assad’s rehabilitation. The “little white pill”, as it was called in the columns of the prestigious agency “Associated Press” (AP), was also a big help.
2023-08-02 21:02:02
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