With the world watching, these citizens clearly expressed how they felt about this incident but also about the United States foreign policy more broadly. In a region, where relations are greatly strained due to the war in Iraq and clashing ideologies, this protest is an organized and effective way to deliberately make their sentiments known. This is evidence that America has not only had strategic and logistical mishaps in the Middle East, but a situation has been created where there is little common ground but abundant tension and hostility when it comes to America. This incident has ignited already present tensions and with the United States failing to even confirm that it occurred, progress and understanding is not likely.

The demand for an apology suggests that these protesters are interested in something different than revenge or retribution. An apology would simply serve as a symbol of America’s acknowledgment of wrong-doing. However, this lone symbol could act in powerful ways to influence the way Syrians feel towards the United States and how they perceive and understand one another. This can have a great and lasting impact on the way Syria and America interact.