Syrians Protest Alone as U.S., Army Leave Assad Free Hand

Syria’s opposition defied President Bashar al-Assad’s security forces again after prayers today without any sign it’s winning backers at home or abroad who could make the contest less lopsided and stop the killing.

In most Middle Eastern countries that experienced revolts this year, the popular movements that started demonstrations found allies to help sustain or conclude them. In Egypt and Tunisia, army generals sided with protesters against longtime rulers. In Libya, rebels continue their fight to oust Muammar Qaddafi with support from NATO air strikes. Yemen’s Gulf neighbors sought to broker a compromise, with U.S. backing, that would remove President Ali Abdullah Saleh from power.