I never liked his father; my only time in Damascus was nearly 50 years ago on my trip around the world before starting Cambridge University and on my second day I woke, opened my hotel/youth hostel window on the main square and saw three men hung in front of my eyes as the crowd cheered. I left the country that day and vowed never to return.

But I have to say, yet again I watch the media revolution cover the current events and take in the majority; ignore those who support the regime (like Libya, probably pretty nasty and liberty repressive), inflating a "great story" with no responsibility or care about consequences.

Syria deserves a better regime, as does Libya, but let them get it by intelligent pressure and influence, not by killing and murder. When force wins (especially when backed or caused by outsiders) the replacement regimes will be just as bad.