Al-Hassad ruins Syria's hopes of reform

In a recent public address, Syrian president Bashar al-Hassad has decided not to give in to protesters’ demands for reform. In a highly anticipated speech, the president did not announce any significant political reforms, disappointing protesters and international observers alike.

He declared that the preservation of Syria’s stability is most important at this time, despite having been labelled a ‘reformer’ by the Obama administration. He claims that protesters are taking advantage of the calls for reform  in order to get people to join their demonstrations. He refers to these people as enemies of the country.

His plan is similar to that of leaders in Saudi arabia, Bahrain and Jordan: acting with impunity while riding out the protests.