[jonyt]

Really? I think it's more accurate to say that Syria was a repressive, violent dictatorship before all this started[0]. Since the war started the government has slaughtered more of its citizens than the rebels have.

0 - http://www.refworld.org/docid/4a1fadbcc.html

[didgeoridoo]

Country != Government. Through much of the latter half of the 20th century, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan were relative beacons of liberalism and diversity. Makes the current catastrophe all the more gut-wrenching.

[jonyt]

Relative to what? Do you have citations for this claim?

[didgeoridoo]

Relative to the far more fundamentalist peoples of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

I'm not sure how I could provide a "citation" for a vague and judgment-based claim, other than to encourage you to read up on the history of the region in the 20th century and decide for yourself.

[wfeui3]

Syria was liberal in the sense it had multiple religions, bikini on beach and shorts in mosque. It also had elections, state/religion separation, female politicians...

[raverbashing]

> repressive, violent dictatorship

Yes. Because that's what kept extremism in check. Same with Libya and Iraq