President Bashar al-Assad is not going down without a fight. Firing on his own people, pressing past the rising protests now bursting out throughout the region, clutching his authority following the mass resignation of state officials, his delusional seizure of power will not ease.
Colonel Moammar Gadhafi still clings to power in civil-war-striven Libya. Western and Eastern cities have risen up, beaten back his official armed forces, then been beaten back in turn.
The Jasmine Revolution is hitting some stiff resistance. The people are rising up, but the leaders in these are other countries are not backing down. Well-entrenched leaders have built up enough strength and resources to maintain their positions.
Moreover, if these rulers do abdicate, like Hosni Mubarak and President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, they will face more than search and arrest at the hands of Interpol.
Assad and Gadhafi are mass-murders world-renowned for their depravity. What nation would take them? Where could they claim refugee status? They are on the wanted list of some people, that even if they managed to flee to a nation whose leader was friendly towards them, countless adversaries would attempt to take them out.
Assad and Gadhafi will fight to the end, even if it means the dissolution of their respective countries. They have nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide.