The 'Islamic Emirate of Hama'

"Syria’s state news media broadcast stark images of the destruction in the besieged city of Hama for the first time yesterday, showing burned buildings, makeshift barricades, and deserted streets strewn with rubble, in footage that appeared designed to show that government forces had put down a rebellion in the city... They suggested the military had retaken control of a city that, for two months, had wrested itself from under the government and enjoyed a measure of freedom ...

The news appeared aimed at reinforcing the leadership’s message to internal opponents that they are regarded as armed insurrectionist gangs inspired by hostile foreign powers and will be dealt with accordingly. But the television footage of the wreckage in Hama also implicitly acknowledged that the violence there was far more serious than Assad’s government had until now been willing to publicly admit..."