Randa Slim a 'scholar' at the Middle East Institute decides that "...While it is impossible to know which side commands a majority, a critical mass of Syrians has clearly opted for regime change...", when this past week has witnessed massive pro-regime demonstrations in the most unlikely parts of Syria.
'Raqqah, today'
Even the WSJ had this to say in a piece titled "Assad has the Upper hand":"massive crowds gathered in several cities, including Damascus, to pledge their loyalty to Mr. Assad. Syria's state television, broadcasting scenes of crowds chanting "The people want Bashar al-Assad," said some two million people gathered at the capital's Ummayad Square last Wednesday. It broadcast fresh scenes of a loyalist demonstration in the southern city of Suweida on Sunday."At one point, what we call the silent majority came to be aligned with the street protests at least from a humanitarian and moral point of view. But now they've stepped back again,"
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The comment above appears to suggest, indirectly, or by association, that Raqqa is "an unlikely part of Syria" in which to find a large pro-regime demonstration. However, Raqqa city and Raqqa province have had only very small, and only few, anti-regime demonstrations this year. You can see the full history of anti-regime demonstrations in Raqqa this year at http://www.onsyria.com/?cat=36&parent=1&page=1
Nationwide, the anti-regime Friday demonstrations have had very major attrition in turnout over the past two months. Meanwhile the pro-regime rallies that took place around Syria during the past two weeks had turnout that was as always as big as, and in some places bigger than, any of the pro-regime rallies of earlier this year. You can see that at Youtube.
To appreciate that pro-regime people will keep turning out for any future demonstrations, take a look at this example from the pro-regime demonstration at Latakia on 27 October 2011, which vividly demonstrates that people enjoy the experience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J4nJUAMTjQ
You can see the same happy and lively party atmosphere in the video of the big pro-regime rally in Raqqa on 2 Nov 2011. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OYvB62Odp6U#t=2030s
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