Hereditary Dictatorships

Like North Korea, 

Syria is a hereditary dictatorship-
a thankfully rare form of government.

It is a condition of these regimes
that under the duress of domestic
disturbance reform will be promised
to 'the international community'.

But such regimes can never deliver
to their populations 

on their words to other governments,
because of their self interest,
and the wrongs to which
they would have to confess.

The gap between the promise of reform
and it's delivery has to be seen to be disbelieved.