Seener says the violence so far does not threaten the regime 's existence but `` will embolden the majority-Sunni population and Kurdish minority , who deeply resent the political dominance of the Alawi minority , to protest . '' Despite concern , al - Assad failed to react to opposition . The regime 's rag - and - stick approach cannot work in the short term . In the long term , there is risk in any strategy , the International Crisis Group says . WikiLeaks cables show a government torn by internal conflicts .
Despite concern , al - Assad failed to react to opposition . The regime 's rag - and - stick approach cannot work in the short term . In the long term , there is risk in any strategy , the International Crisis Group says . WikiLeaks cables show a government torn by internal conflicts .