Reform in Syia

On the front page, the New York Times states that hopes for "reform" in Syria have dimmed.  Personally, I don't think that Arab governments are capable of reform: once they reform they lose their grip on power, unless they have in mind US version of reform: in Egypt, Obama and Hillary spoke of reform when they meant to replace Mubarak with Sulayman.  Oh, o New York Times: how are the reforms in Saudi Arabia going? Still strong?