Despite concern , al-Assad forced to react to opposition . The regime 's carrot-and-stick approach may work in the short term . The cables shed light on how Syria has been run -- with powerful and often competing cliques dominating economic and political life , and intrigue trumping open debate . But it is not sustainable and will only lead to more violence down the road. WikiLeaks cables show a government hamstrung by internal disagreement .
Despite concern , al-Assad forced to react to opposition . The regime 's carrot-and-stick approach may work in the short term . But it is not sustainable and will only lead to more violence down the road. WikiLeaks cables show a government hamstrung by internal disagreement .