Distressed mother cries over her son with half a head remaining after clashes that resulted when terrorists occupied a residential area in Deraa. It is not known how the boy was killed or who fired what at who. The situation on the ground is very confused as terrorists follow a tactic of entering residential areas and trying to hold them against government security. This puts the residents at great risk, and turns their lives upside down, if they survive at all. At the least, they will loose some of their property and their ability to live normal lives.

These are the reforms that can be achieved by taking up arms against a government. The alternative path of slower but realistic reforms that brings lasting change was not of interest to the terrorists. This is what they have achieved today by rejecting the offers of president Assad.

The 'Free Syrian Army' is a chaotic 'organisation' if it can be called that at all. Anyone can pick up a gun and form a so called brigade and shoot at police, that is all it takes to be a member of this 'army'. It has no genuine command or structure, and it is the problem not solution in Syria. It has been heavily infiltrated by Al-Qaeda, including Jabhat Al-Nasra, Katibat Al-Faruq, and Kataeb Ahrar Al-Sham. The 'Free Syrian Army' does not disown nor fight against the Al-Qaeda cells. In fact, they use indistinguishable tactics, and their openly stated beliefs are similar.