MIDEAST ERUPTIONS – AT 10:35 A.M. ET:  Demonstrations continue throughout the Mideast in what is being called "the Arab spring."  And, increasingly, Western observers are worrying about what comes after the spring.  Democracy...or something else?

One of the most critical Arab nations is Syria, where the government doesn't hesitate to turn guns on its people.  Predictions of mass demonstrations after Friday prayers yesterday did not disappoint, and death occurred:

(CNN) -- At least seven people died and dozens were injured as Syrian troops assaulted demonstrators who took to the streets after Friday prayers, witnesses and activists said.

Troops used gunfire amid protests in the Damascus suburb of Douma, according to witnesses and opposition sources, and one witness saw at least six dead demonstrators taken into a hospital morgue. Witnesses also said a man was shot in the head with a rubber bullet and dozens were injured.

Another death and 10 injuries occurred when troops shot at protesters marching toward the southern town of Al Sanameen, witnesses said.

Protests also were reported by witnesses in the cities of Daraa, Latakia, Homs, Baniyas and Kamishli, sources said. Opposition sources cited witnesses in Homs as saying thousands of people had gathered around a mosque. 

And...

One witness said security forces attacked thousands of protesters at the "big mosque" in the center of Douma with electric batons, tear gas and live ammunition.

"I have never in my life seen such violence: men shooting guns into an unarmed crowd without a thought," said the eyewitness, who had been hurt in an electric-baton beating and taken to the hospital for a head injury.

Along with the six dead, he said, he saw dozens of wounded, many of whom were seriously injured.

The American response to violence in Syria has been a mild rebuke to the government, but nothing even approaching the intervention we've mounted in Libya.  Our inconsistency and lack of a guiding policy is being duly noted.  Amateurs are at work.

Look for more violence next week, especially on Friday, the major day for Arab demonstrations.

April 2, 2011