himself, speaking to cnn in 2005, bashar al assad rejected those who suggest he's not in control. >> but at the same time, i'm a dictator, you cannot be a dictator and not be in control. >> he denies he's a dictator, seeing himself as a modern leader, trained as an o ophthalmologist. there ha has been some change, some economic reform, but largely the promises have not been delivered. human rights watch call the ten years of bashar al assaad's rule, a wasted decade. the internet is monitored and sensored and dissidents still fill up the prisons. activists in syria say the president cannot look away. >> it's the time to start listening and acting.