Syria: Who Backs Bashar? http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/syria270311.html

Bashar al-Assad, unlike other Arab heads of state, appears to have masses of supporters, who took to the streets on 26 March 2011, as shown in the videos below. (Search YouTube for تأييد بشار الأسد, and you'll find many more lovingly uploaded by his fans.) However, "God, Syria, only Bashar" and "With our soul and blood, we'll defend Bashar" (the slogans shouted by his supporters again and again in the videos, as if there is nothing else to say) won't do. They need an ideology larger than Bashar. -- Ed.