But They Were Just Pilgrims

Here's another story from Syria that is getting very little coverage in the main stream media.  The Assad regime has agreed to release over 2000 prisoners in exchange for 48 Iranians who have been held by the rebels.  The Iranians were members of the Revolutionary Guard who were in Syria to assist the forces loyal to Assad; they were captured last summer.  Iran claims that these men were only religious pilgrims who were in Syria to visit holy sites, but it is hard to imagine Assad freeing 2000 prisoners to gain the release of pilgrims.  Indeed, the majority of the prisoners who are gaining freedom from Assad are wives, children, and other relatives of rebel fighters.  Only about a third of those released are even accused of fighting with the rebels.

The prisoner swap now is a sign that the Iranians are frantic to get their people out before the fall of the Assad regime.  Iran does not want these men paraded before the world to show the dishonesty of Teheran's claims that it is not fighting with Assad.  The swap also shows just how isolated Assad has become and how dependent on the assistance of the mullahs in Teheran.  A year ago, Assad would have been more likely to have executed all these prisoners rather than release them.

The day is coming soon when the Assad regime falls.  That will remove a blight from the earth.  Of course, it remains to be seen if what follows in Syria is any better.  One can always hope, but the prospects for improvement do not look good at the moment.