“Face the Nation” recently asked whether Syria could become the first true Arab Muslim democracy in the Middle East today. Probably not. Even today’s “democratic” Israel is not close to a genuine democracy, nor is the United States, although our people regularly claim to have the same form of republican government that the Founders had. initially implemented.

The military and political leadership of the Syrian rebels will rely on a form of government that allows ambitious individuals to seize extraordinary power and wealth and minimize these benefits for the people.

There will be no Mahatma Gandhi who will teach true self-determination to a class of all people. There will be no George Washington who voluntarily relinquishes power after a relatively short term. But perhaps there will be less chemical warfare directed against immediate neighbors.

Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah.