Sean sent me links indicating "debate" on Syria but they were by anti-regime people who were arguing for or against arming the rebellion (this is like debate in the US Congress about whether Israel "needs" 50 fighter jets or 800 fighter jets--and incidentally, that was the debate until the 1970s and the debate is now over as all decisions on Israel enjoy full support for the entire herd). Sean asked me: you expect them to have people argue the pro-regime point of view given how terrible the regime is? I say: well, you have people publicly argue on behalf of the Bahraini or Saudi or Israeli regime? I don't care if you don't want the other side represented but don't pretend that there is a debate. Compare that to Bahrain: you can argue for arming of the Bahraini regime but no one--to my knowledge--dares argue for arming the Bahraini peaceful opposition.