None of the political elite would question a decision of his , and those who did were dismissed .
While Assad did not rule alone , he increasingly had the last word ; those with whom he worked eventually became lieutenants , rather than colleagues .
None of the political elite would question a decision of Assad 's , and those who did were dismissed .
While Assad did not rule alone , he increasingly had the last word ; those with whom he worked eventually became lieutenants , rather than colleagues .