Assad appears to have decided to purge his government of anyone remotely suspected of sympathizing with the pro-democracy uprising - with his first priority being to reassert control of the armed forces. To hammer that home, he's appearing on state TV in military uniforms in his role as commander-in-chief - his chest often covered with Syria's highest military decorations for bravery, although he's never done military service. (Amir Taheri)

Assad appears to have decided to purge his government of anyone remotely suspected of sympathizing with the pro-democracy uprising - with his first priority being to reassert control of the armed forces. To hammer that home, he's appearing on state TV in military uniforms in his role as commander-in-chief - his chest often covered with Syria's highest military decorations for bravery, although he's never done military service.

Amir Taheri

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