don't tell me you're not aware Israel and their puppets, US and UK + France are supplying arms to the rebels and foreign mercenaries to fight there ?
otherwise such a rebellion would have happened long ago !
Instilling fear in the masses works everywhere. However, when pushed to the limit, a simple spark can cause a fire that spreads far and wide. This Syrian thing is part of the Jasmine revolution that started in Tunisia when a down and out street vendor could take it no more and set himself on fire. Tunisia to Libya to Egypt to Syria. Even the Saudis are not exempt and had to dole out $$$ to appease the masses.
So far I have not heard of fighter jets or helicopters being supplied to the Syrian rebels. Only the Assad regime has these and it has used them on its own people to save its own skin. Lee Con You said what about using the army on the people? Now even Russia, Syria's die-hard ally, is sending signals to the Assad regime that use of chemical weapons on its own people will not be tolerated.
The rebels of course are entitled to use whatever arms they can lay their hands on to overthrow an oppressive regime including those captured from the regime or held by regime forces that have seen the light and crossed over to their side. All's fair in love and war. See here for a more detailed account:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/syria/index.html
I sense that this is a fear mongering thread. Typical PAP tactic. So here is a useful quote from Field Marshall Herman Goering:
“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
In any case, the situation in SG is very different. If the PAPzis try to do as the Assad regime did, they will be shooting themselves in the foot. A conscript army drawn from all walks of life will not obey orders that don't make sense.