Syria Unrest: Deadlock As Pressure Builds -- BBC
After nearly five months of uprising and carnage in Syria, nobody really knows whether President Bashar al-Assad and his Baathist regime will still be in power a year hence.
Analysts use phrases like "war of attrition" or "immovable object meeting irresistible force" to describe the stalemate between a popular revolt that will not go away, and a regime that seems determined to cling to power at any cost.
Both may have gone beyond the point of no return on the courses they have adopted.
If the regime were to heed calls to withdraw its army and security forces from the fray, it is clear that large parts of the country could spin out of control.
And if the rebels were to call off their uprising in the hope of securing political gains, they would risk being left with nothing but further severe repression.
Too much blood has been spilled for the clock to be turned back.
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More News On The Unrest In Syria
Syria protests: Troops renew attacks on pro-democracy demonstrators -- The Guardian
Syria reacts to GCC criticism -- UPI
Syria defiant despite increased regional pressure -- Christian Science Monitor
Death Toll Mounts in Syria as World Powers Appeal for Calm -- Voice of America
Syria comes under global reproach for crackdown -- Yahoo News/AP
Turkish envoy completes visit to Syria to help quell unrest -- CNN
Syrian president vows to fight on, despite Turkish pressure -- Deutsche Welle
Assad rejects Turkish plea to halt crackdown -- Financial Times
Syrian President Bashar Assad target of war crimes investigation -- L.A. Times
Syrian Military Loyal So Far -- Voice of America
Secretive sect of the rulers of Syria -- Christopher Howse, Montreal Gazette/The Daily Telegraph
Analysis: Saudi switch against Syria's Assad is blow to Iran -- MSNBC
Syria Conflict Descends Into 'War of Attrition' -- New York Times/AP
The Arab States and Syria -- New York Times editorial