Saudi Arabia calls for Syrian reforms

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/08/201187213922184761.html

This is sort of a Crossing of the Rubicon. Obviously the Saudis and the Turks have been harassing the Syrians behind the scenes for some time before they went public. There is probably also some self interest involved here, to stay on the right side of the current public mood in the middle east.

Syria has definitely put themselves on an island. Whatever the result, Assad will survive this round, but Syria's ability to remain stable is forever changed.