Bashar al-Assad's hometown defiant
amid threat of rebel and US-led attacks
Jeremy Bowen was also talking to militia in Damascus. I saw a report last week that defections were rising again, maybe the government is running out of soldiers.
"If we put our hand on it, the balance of power will be completely shaken. It will be a huge blow to the regime. If he [Assad] can't protect his hometown, the hub of Alawites and the Shabiha, how can he protect the other lands of Syria?"
This is not quite OMG Anything Could Happen:
"Qerdaha residents are confident that the US is unlikely to strike them because there are no strategic military sites within their borders."
This piece of hysteria is familiar though. Assad often talks about attacking Israel, but never does. It's so much harder than attacking civilians, and would be suicide, and I doubt any Syrian officers who wanted to survive would follow such an order. Of course it doesn't look like there will be American airstrikes, at least until the next round of escalation in the crimes against humanity rehabilitate the case for intervention further.
"Everyone knows if the [US] strike happens, our answer will need to be direct and within 72 hours. All indicators confirm that Israel will be our first target. And when Israel is hit, it is going to be a hell, hundreds of rockets are going to fall on it. Neither the Iron Dome or Patriots can foil 400 rockets in a single hour."