From USAToday:

Whether Assad is a decision-maker or merely a frontman, who rules Syria matters. The choices the government makes will be crucial in determining the fate of Lebanon, where Syria has begun withdrawing about 15,000 troops, and Iraq, some of whose insurgents have found sanctuary in Syria. Israeli and Palestinian hopes for peace could also be dashed by Syria, which has given refuge to leaders of Palestinian militant groups. Former secretary of State Henry Kissinger once remarked, “You can’t make war in the Middle East without Egypt, and you can’t make peace without Syria.”
Yet Syria, under the younger Assad, has repeatedly misread regional and international trends. The assassination in Beirut one month ago of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri caused massive anti-Syria demonstrations in Lebanon. Lebanese opposition leaders such as Walid Jumblatt say Hariri’s slaying was carried out by Syria or with its permission. The United States, France and much of the rest of the world united behind the demand that Syria withdraw troops and intelligence agents in the country since 1976.