The dictator gave a bizarro-world address to the nation today that, judging by the Syrian responses, doesn't appear to leave much room for compromise. Daniel Serwer parses the speech:
The President’s response in his first public statement in more than six months is to double down, attributing the rebellion to the international conspiracy rather than the international effort to force him out to his method of dealing with what originated as a nonviolent rebellion. He is not being obtuse. He knows perfectly well what is going on in the streets. He is trying to survive by rallying nationalist Syrians, especially minorities that fear a Sunni Islamist takeover, against the internationals.
Amal Hanano is ready to declare the Arab League mission a failure. Dominic Evans worries the Free Syrian Army has control over the armed opposition. Tamer Mallat blasts failures in opposition strategy:
The uncertainty left open has also allowed alternate opposition groups to gain considerable visibility. Such is the case with the National Coordinating Committee which disfavors any kind of tangible action taken that could potentially dislodge or facilitate the fall of the regime. Over the past months, the Syrian National Council, in a bid to gain political leverage abroad by heeding calls to unify the opposition, has taken unnecessary measures to coordinate with the NCC. Instead of alienating a group that spends more time criticizing Syria’s Revolution and opposition than finding ways to topple Assad, the SNC has in the process compromised many of its goals, weakening its cohesion and credibility.
David Kenner analyzes an odd story about pro-Assad Alawite refugees potentially domiciling in Israel. Here's some kids singing "liar, liar" while Assad gives his speech:
It's probably good the kids' faces weren't shown – here's another video making the rounds of an infant tortured to death:
These victims of Assad are prepared for burial:
The Dish 