tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519753940648239199.post2979126870388536239..comments2023-10-03T03:37:48.006-07:00Comments on Francis Fulford's Blog: SyriaFrancis Fulfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15082145549822339781noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519753940648239199.post-40604249448414937832012-03-07T17:46:14.797-08:002012-03-07T17:46:14.797-08:00I have been to Syria, well me and the wife, we wen...I have been to Syria, well me and the wife, we went in 2008 and visited Aleppo, Palmyra and finally Damascus. The pictures of Bashar and his father Hafez were fairly ubiquitous - especially in Damascus - but the country, compared to others in the region, was from a tourists view point a stable, beautiful and liberal one. We did see a few people wearing full face veils, but they were rare. We were able to buy and consume alcohol. Children went to school, men went to work... I remember asking numerous Syrians about their government, about Israel and about the Middle East and I did not meet a single person who said they were too afraid to talk. People expressed confidence in the future, they said Syria "is not Iran or Saudi Arabia" and people can wear what they want and believe what they want. The overwhelming impression was people were grateful not to be living in a war zone and quietly hoped Bashar would gradually reform the country. I totally agree with, sir, we should not expect let alone demand a "western democracy" be installed in Syria. As you allude to - for democracy to work the will of the majority must be respected and the needs of minorities must be protected. <br /><br />btw - I bet Vince Cable ain't your favourite person at the moment! I reckon you could tell him a thing or two - perhaps you should give him a private, night time view of the battlements!!!Mayor's Championhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237337470639131315noreply@blogger.com