Will Asma take any notice? And does she have any influence anyway?

[Kiki-frog]

I've signed the open letter to Asma al-Assad, asking her to use her influence to put an end to the abominable treatment of civilians, especially children, in Syria:
http://www.change.org...he-bloodshed-in-syria

I've watched the video and found it very moving. But I'm not sure that it will make any difference. I just signed as I felt I wanted to be doing "something". Do petitions like this have any hope of success? Thoughts, please ABers!

[emmie]

If Nato and the condemnation from most world leaders isn't enough, not sure what would be.

[Old_Geezer]

I think petitions only rarely have results. They need to be able to apply pressure on those who can do what you want. For example most on the UK government petition website were affectively ignored, and some sop answer returned. But the only thing you can do is what you consider the right thing and hope it will have an affect. As for Asma, I suspect her influence is limited at best, but every little helps I suppose.

[Kiki-frog]

Thanks for replying. OG I have a horrible feeling that you're right and that petitions mostly achieve little more than making the signatories feel they are doing something useful.

As for Asma's influence - who knows? In some cases there is a 'power behind the throne'. Imelda Marcos was one such, I believe. I suppose this petition is acting on the assumption that (a) Asma does have considerable influence, and (b) she can be shamed into doing something. I have my doubts really, but I guess it's worth a try.