With Muammar Qaddafi surrounded in Tripoli, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad may be starting to fear more for his future. Perhaps he’s thinking that the international coalition that brought down the Libyan leader may now turn its attention to him—but now with a victory, once thought uncertain, under its belt.

Assad seemed cool and controlled in his canned interview yesterday on Syrian state TV, contending that calls from foreign leaders for him to step down are “worthless.” Nonetheless, allies and adversaries are getting ready for what comes next in Damascus.