Assad Threatens Chemical Warfare

The Arab League has offered President Bashar as-Assad of Syria an exit strategy. He and his family will be given safe haven in a friendly country if he agrees to peacefully step down. That wouldn’t solve much: The rebellion consuming Syria isn’t about how much people dislike Assad personally, but about being fed up of being ruled by the broader regime. Assad is an Alawite, a sect that makes up a small percentage of Syria’s total population, but wields a huge amount of power in the government and military officer corps. It is doubtful that anything less than full-on regime change will truly bring an end to the fighting in Syria, nor is this the first offer of asylum Assad has received. Still, it was worth a shot. After a bomber killed four senior members of his government last week, it would have been understandable if Assad had perhaps decided it was time to start packing.