the US strategy stupidly revives the old animosities between themselves and Russia... so it's entirely and stupidly predictable that if Russia is on one side, the US will be on the other side. this now leads us into the vietnamization of the unfortunate tragedy. assad may be seen as bad... but those opposing him are even worse and far too dysfunctional to save themselves from being crushed by Russian equipped opponents.

Like Tarik Aziz. Erdogan may sit next to him. Ayatollah Ali Khaminei is also on the list of potential prison comrades.

And if anyone thinks that if arabs are killing one each other in Syria is ok for anyone else as far they dont bother u, look what happened with the Iran vs irak war decades ago, millions of people died and what u got? There u have an Iran with nuclear facilities and a poor Irak devastated by the ambitius of a dictator vs a democrat move strategy that failed to understand the true meaning of what is suppose to be to govern with goodness. Salam Shalom

Yahoodia Arabia shold cut its losses and get outbefore they go down.

but he would say that wouldn't he? If the rebels do not receive arms and their fight weakens there will be no need for peace talks. Assad copying Abbas methods of negotiation using pre-conditions; no weapons support to rebels and Assad not to step down. If weapons had been supplied earlier to the rebels then stronger rebel factions would have been in better position to obtain victory/negotiate. Now that looks less likely and a victorious Assad will only ensure a strengthened Russian-Iranian-Hezbollah presence in Syria and continued Russian use of Med base at Tartous. As both sides are as evil as each other and have voiced threats against Israel at least may they remain fighting each other to weaken themselves and be too pre-occupied to attack Israel.

the assad regime is engaging in the usual hypocrisy. assad is armed on a daily basis by iran and russia. russia has at its disposal an entire port at tartus through which to channel arms to assad. iran sends daily cargo planes to arm assad. now, iran is building a military port in the suddan to supply assad with heavy armaments like tanks. it must be pointed out, that once the alliance assad, iran, hezbollah, russia, defeat the rebels, they will turn those weapons on israel and her civilians. do not expect the western press to report what iran and its patron russia are actually doing. the people cannot be informed under any circumstance.

Mr. Moallem , Over two years ago Syrian's asking for democracy , then civil war , then a problem over 1300 years old take place in Syria and the regions , 15% Shia led by Khomeini like to take over 85% Sunni , So the war still in the beginning and it will take a generation or two to stop it , but the religion problem will stay as is.