WHAT does "has involved dangling a small carrot or two, " means here..?
Less than 24 hours before, the government had pledged not to use violence. The Syrian government's confused response to these unprecedented protests has involved dangling a small carrot or two, as well as swinging its heavy truncheon. WHAT does "has involved dangling a small carrot or two, " means here..? Is that some kind of empty promises?