There?s been no movement toward democracy. The economic troubles Syria confronts will force reforms, but it?s unlikely that economic reforms will bring more democracy.
Syria is looking for more time. It is promising cooperation on a broad scale but has launched diplomatic contacts to try to slow things down,
It offered a secular vision of Syria that would dismantle very serious religious splits.
They are going to grab Syria by the throat and squeeze and shake, and see what kind of change falls out of the Syrian pockets.... It's going to be the harshest isolation they can manufacture.