Assad’s Game Plan For The Syrian Crisis

It is clear from US government pronouncements since the beginning of the public demonstrations in Syria that the Obama Administration wants the leadership in Syria to survive. Unlike its response to demonstrations in some other countries in the region, there have been no US demands for regime change in Syria nor any calls for military intervention, criticism has been relatively muted and punitive sanctions—by not being aimed directly at President Assad—have been intended more as a caution than as an instrument to hurt the leadership. posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:27am EDT