许多西方领导人宣称阿萨德应该下台,但阿萨德却仍是叙利亚总统,而许多呼吁阿萨德下台的人反而下台。这一现象导致了一个名为“阿萨德必须下台诅咒”,或简称为“阿萨德诅咒”的表情包在网络传播。这个表情包的最开始是某个西方领导人的图片,喊着“阿萨德必须下台!”(英語:Assad must go!)然后是阿萨德的照片,他问道:“谁必须下台?”(英語:Who must go?)最后是阿萨德笑着的照片,以及呼吁阿萨德下台的西方领导人看起来很沮丧的照片,因为阿萨德至今仍是叙利亚总统,而那名西方领导人则已下台。[20]
Bashar Al-Assad (Major World Leaders) by Susan Muaddi Darraj, (June 2005, Chelsea House Publications) ISBN 0-7910-8262-8 for young adults
Syria Under Bashar Al-Asad: Modernisation and the Limits of Change (Adelphi Papers) by Volker Perthes, (2004, Oxford University Press) ISBN 0-19-856750-2
Bashar's First Year: From Ophthalmology to a National Vision (Research Memorandum) by Yossi Baidatz, (2001, Washington Institute for Near East Policy) ISBN B0006RVLNM
Syria: Revolution From Above by Raymond Hinnebusch (Routledge; 1st edition, August 2002) ISBN 0-415-28568-2