Assad under siege

Events in Syria have taken on a new dimension following the attack against an important military espionage center in the capital of Damascus, which caused some 20 casualties among government forces. The popular uprising against the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad, now approaching its ninth month, has until now been overwhelmingly peaceful, but it has cost at least 4,000 lives among the demonstrators. The attack on Wednesday by the self-styled Free Syrian Army against a barracks housing military units, however, is important not only in itself, but marks a new step, in that it was carried out by military rebels who are now operating as the de facto armed wing of a disparate opposition. Growing numbers of armed men and even former members of the military are now siding with the civilian protestors.

Until as recently as a few weeks ago, the idea of change in Syria seemed impossible, even if the current regime has lost all credibility or legitimacy following its brutal attempt to crush all protest after failing to live up to its promises of reform. Now Assad is being given the cold shoulder by his own regional neighbors. The Syrian dictatorship is not concerned about US or EU sanctions or accusations of human rights abuses as long as they don't overly affect an already-stagnant economy or lead to a resolution by the Security Council ? something that, for the moment, Russia and China are preventing.

But the Arab League is a different matter altogether. For 60 years this club, made up of autocrats, who had made a point of not interfering in each other's affairs, is now threatening sanctions and even expulsion against one of its most noted founders for failing to implement long-promised reforms. Then there is Turkey, an old ally, which is now offering shelter to the Syrian opposition. Similarly, King Abdullah of Jordan has also called on Assad to go. Damascus' anger can be seen in the orchestrated attacks against various Arab embassies in the capital.

Bashar al-Assad, who thought that he was protected by his fellow Arab nations, is now completely surrounded by enemies. The uprising in Syria, where dozens of people are dying each week in their fight for freedom, now requires that the democracies of the world redouble their economic and diplomatic efforts, particularly through the United Nations, to speed up the isolation of a murderous regime and the fall of its leader.