As Assad refuses to budge politically, he tells his new cabinet:

- Don't over-promise; be realistic, implying the difficult conditions will continue.

- Sanctions and the lack of "political openness toward Syria" play a limited role. The issue is simply mismanagement.

With 28 morons nodding in agreement, his regime's mind-boggling corruption, brutality, and predation on the business community don't get an honorable mention.