The Obama Administration announced new sanctions on Syria today, in conjunction with a statement calling for President Asad to step down. Such sanctions may not be effective, and they tend to have adverse consequences for innocents. Pressure from neighboring states may be more effective.

The Baathist Party of the Assad family has ruled this Mediterranean nation since 1963 with Hafez Assad ruling from 1970 until his son Bashar took over after his death in 2000. Al Jazeera is reporting that today that the Cabinet is likely to resign and there will be some kinds of reform implemented.