By Rami G. Khouri
The Daily Star

Story Summary

The fast pace of developments in and around Syria in the past week has pushed the country more quickly toward the end of Bashar Assad’s regime, a situation many of us thought was imminent last autumn.

The Syrian government that ruled nationally has disappeared, to be replaced by fortified military bases tightly controlled by Assad loyalists, cousins and desperado fellow Alawites who are prepared to destroy Syria to save themselves.

If, on the other hand, the Assad regime falls quickly and is replaced by a legitimate government that receives substantial foreign assistance during the transition and reconstruction period, I would expect two important developments to occur: Syria’s traditional secular nationalism and cosmopolitanism will reaffirm themselves, and this will reduce the influence of those Islamists whose sudden prominence – Presto!

Syria will follow suit in due course.

Some Syrian Islamists who enjoy local legitimacy for nonmilitary reasons (tribal links, proven service delivery, response to moderate indigenous Islamic values) will help shape the new Syria that will soon emerge.

Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2013/Mar-27/211551-no-islamists-will-not-dominate-in-syria.ashx#ixzz2OpgNXZkM
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)