However, Keith, there certainly are sets in Israel who think that it should be a theocracy, and indeed until they are (my feeling is unenthusiastically and belatedly) stopped conduct themselves and oppress others as if it were. That is much rarer in England.

The Assad regime, while controlled by a small tribal group of a sect within a sect, is ostensibly and to some extent actually a secular regime which does not dictate or prohibit which foolish imaginary friend people follow (or what clothes they wear).

Conversely, those in uprising against his oppressive dictatorship may if successful replace it with something even worse.

The question of what to do and how to do it is difficult. In Iraq there was a UN resolution that maybe could be interpreted so as to justify an international invasion force (a bit like the dishonest expedient in Libya) - and while the Iraqi army was large and feared its technology was obsolete (as was Libya's). The Syrians are equipped with a large military (some 300,000 I believe - more than the UK if reservists are not counted) equipped by Russia with modern technology if not as fearsome as some of the US's stuff. That makes them a harder target for invasion in support of a revolution than Libya.

Obviously one would like to see free and democratic elections - but that is not going to happen with Islamism on the march (compare Egypt, think of the gynaephobic poster slogans during the election there).

Has anyone any useful plans?