Four key tests face the Syrian opposition

 Revolutionaries often say that the difficult time comes when you've overthrown the tyrant. Reassuring Alawites is essential, reassuring senior security personnel seems more likely to worry those that have suffered the most that nothing will really change.

 'The developments in recent days in the Syrian opposition will be a game-changer if they achieve four critical and linked goals: coordinating internal military action, generating legitimate and credible local governance bodies in areas liberated from government control, connecting with Alawites, senior security personnel and other regime supporters to convince them of their safety in a post-Assad Syria, and managing a rising flow of international diplomacy and aid.'