The Fall of Hama and the Hopes of Syrians

Syrian rebels have taken Hama, a city of one million people and the site of some important recent history: the massacre of 1982, and the protests of 2011. Huge crowds came out into the street to cheer the rebel victory, and to welcome released prisoners, some of whom were protesters of 2011 who had been behind bars ever since. And the rebels are not stopping: "The Battle for Hama is over, the Battle for Homs now begins." 

The fall of Hama seems significant to me because there was no surprise here; the Syrian army drove out the first wave of rebels, brought up significant reinforcements, and had time to establish a defense before the main rebel force arrived. Russian fighter bombers attacked the rebels. But it didn't matter, and the government's defenses crumbled within four days. They are just getting beaten, plain and simple.

Video of the Assad statue in Hama toppling.

It is amazing to read online how some Syrians are reacting to these events. Like this:

I’m crying. I can’t describe how happy I am. My dad was only 5 years old when Baathists stole the country and he only survived the Assad massacre in 1982 by a miracle. He died 8 years ago in exile with his heart aching for Syria. I love you dad. I wish you could see this. 

Or this:

After 10 years in exile. I am finally going back home! Syria is being freed!

Or this:

Stunning images are emerging from Hama, as reports confirm the release of thousands of prisoners from Assad's dungeons. Many were presumed dead, their survival unimaginable, yet now against all odds, they're free.

Or this:

Assadists in total meltdown. Revolutionaries celebrating in the streets. A series of events many wrote off as impossible taking place before our very eyes.

Oz Katerji, the Lebanese journalist we discussed here a few days ago, has this to say to western pragmatists who supported Assad to bring "stability" to Syria and fear what revolution will bring:

What is happening in Syria today is happening in spite of those foreign policy decisions, and in spite of those who presented Assad’s victory as the only possible resolution to the Syrian civil war. I can’t stress this enough, these people genuinely believed that the same corrupt murderous gangster regime that triggered a revolution against it would eventually stabilise Syria - did they think he’d suddenly stop stealing food from the mouths of his people? 

Assad forcibly displaced 3 million people into Idlib and the world just moved on. Now those people are taking back their homes, in spite of their abandonment, and the foreign policy establishment is concerned again. Now the conflict is no longer in the hands of the western powers. That ship has sailed. These are the consequences of their failures. If the regime falls, it will be despite their attempts to keep it on life support, and by the hands of Syrians that owe NOTHING to the USA.This is what the world looks like without your involvement. Deal with it.