標題:Bashar al-Assad, an Ophthalmologist Who Became a Dictator, Is the Last of a Despotic Dynasty

正文：Bashar al-Assad was never expected to rule Syria. That job was meant for his older brother, Basil, who trained as a military commander while Bashar studied to be an ophthalmologist. He wasn’t expected to be the last of the line for his family’s despotic dynasty, either—at least not this soon. A lightning advance by Syrian rebel groups took just over a week to roll through the country’s major cities and into the capital Sunday, driving Assad to flee and bringing an end to a regime that had ruled for 54 years. Assad traveled to Russia early Sunday, where Moscow granted him and his family political asylum.

知識點：be meant for

to intend sb to be or do sth想要某?成為；想要某?去做

I was never meant for the army (= did not have the qualities needed to become a soldier) .我根本就不是塊當兵的料。

Philip and Kim were meant for each other (= are very suitable as partners) .菲利普和金真是天生的一對。

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