It seems things are progressing very fast and Assad is under real threat. I won’t be shedding any tears for him, but as ever the worry is what will replace him and his coterie. Worst case scenario it will be some Al Qaida type outfit, women’s rights will go into rapid reverse, religious minorities will be persecuted. Can one hope for any kind of positive outcome here ( for me that would be the end of the Assad regime and some kind of non fanatical government being formed, but I struggle to see how). Anyone here who is familiar with the region and can comment?