In fact, regardless of the balance of power between the regime and its opponents, Syria probably will not reestablish a strong, centralized government for decades, if ever. At best, Syria will emerge from the current conflict with a decentralized or federal state; at worst, the country will go the way of Somalia.
事实上，不论政权和反对派之间的实力平衡如何，叙利亚或许在数十年内（也许是永远）都无法重建强大的中央集权政府。最好的情形是叙利亚经过当前的冲突成为分散的联邦国家；最坏的情形是重蹈索马里覆辙。无论如何，叙利亚目前显然处于输家阵营。