In the spring of 2011, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad responded to the first massive protests against his regime with unrelenting violence. Security forces opened fire on unarmed civilians who joined demonstrations. Proposals by Western governments and neighbors for democratic reforms or negotiations with the opposition were evaded by Mr. Assad, who insisted on tarring all opponents as terrorists. The scorched-earth policy soon prompted the United States and many of its allies to impose sanctions on Syria, and two years ago this month President Obama called for the end of the Assad regime.
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