Syrian government's fight against protesters escalates

After seven weeks of protests and crackdowns, the Syrian government has taken even further action than it was willing previously. Two cities have now been reinforced with troops, more have been deployed in another town, and communication has been cut throughout the southern part of the country. According to human rights groups and activists, 14 people were killed and hundreds arrested on Sunday. Though only a few weeks long, this uprising has posed the greatest threat to Bashar Al-Assad's presidency. Today's crackdown may be a hint that he plans to end ultimately by force. To do this, Assad has gained information, technology, and weapons from neighbor and ally Iran. This includes tear gas and new ways to stop communications. The latter has been working as human rights groups and activists alike have been unable to use communications tools that have worked earlier during the uprising. Many have speculated that the protesters are not organized enough to provide an undivided front to the government. This fuels the government's mantra that they are better than the pure chaos that would be sure to follow their departure. Whether this is true or not should not be the issue. Human rights violations are clearly occurring if tanks are rolling into small towns, and sanctions against government leaders do not seem to be working.