A Syrian shell landed in a border town in Turkey Wednesday, killing five civilians, prompting the Turkish military to retaliate. Syria shot down a Turkish military plane in June.

As for Egypt, throngs of Egyptian protesters intent on democracy deposed former president Hosni Mubarak, opening the path to power to the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsy, who has taken the side of Syria's insurgents.

During a visit to Turkey, Morsy promised continuing support to Syrian rebels.

Even Hamas' exiled leader Meshaal quietly shuttered the party's office in Damascus in the midst of the bloodshed and walked away on cat's paws.

Hamas later announced it was moving its staff to a new office in Cairo.

Meshaal recently turned up in Turkey at Prime Minister Erdogan's side, interpreted by Damascus as a show of support for Ankara's stance against Assad.

It's all enough to set a dictator off.