The Amazing Arrogance of Assad

Consider the actions of the Assad forces in Syria. Assad has ruled the country for many years after taking over control of the country upon his father's death. Indeed, the combined Assad rule has been in place for many decades. In the last year, as the Syrian people mounted protests, Assad ordered snipers to randomly kill folks who marched in the protests. When this tactic did not stop the demonstrations, Assad brought in tanks and machine guns to strike down the protesters. Even this killing did not work, and instead led to the formation of a rebel force that actively seeks the overthrow of Assad and his regime. Once again, Assad changed tactics; this time the Assad forces began shelling civilian areas that supported the rebels. Many thousands have died. Even when the UN sent in observers, the Assad forces attack them. The UN, as expected, withdrew its observers. And with all that death spewing from Syria, nothing has been done to stop the killing. Assad's allies in Russia and China have prevented any UN resolution from passing. They are even rearming the Assad forces. Certain other Muslim countries were helping the rebels with arms, but they are no match for the Russians. America, of course, did nothing; Obama was preoccupied with re-election and would not take a stand to stop the wholesale killing of innocent civilians. It looked almost certain that Assad would weather the storm and, after killing 20,000 or so Syrians, remain in power.

That all may have changed now. Two days ago, the Syrians shot down an unarmed Turkish military jet that may or may not have strayed about a mile into Syrian airspace at the border of the two countries. Here is how Reuters begins its report on the latest developments:

Turkey has accused Syria of shooting down one of its military reconnaissance jets in international airspace without warning and summoned a NATO meeting for Tuesday to agree a response to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Get it? The Assad forces attack a NATO ally which was not threatening Syria at all. No sane country would shoot down an unarmed jet without first issuing a warning. What did the Syrians think was happening? Was Turkey launching an assault with one unarmed jet? Was there a threat from the unarmed jet? What in the world did they think was happening.

Turkey has it within its power to demand support from its NATO allies to take action against Syria in response to the unprovoked attack. Hopefully, this will be enough to stir the world from its lethargy in the face of the slaughter of Syrian civilians. It is time for Assad to reap the rewards of his incredible arrogance.