If He doesnt step down this war will continue untill one side is the Victor. If the opposition will win, there will be no Alawites left alive in the Country. The opposition will never stop och back down untill Assad is toppled, to much Blood has ben sacrificed for that purpose, Assad is a moron who want to Rule over another Faith than His own. He should have Divided Syria and position Himself in the Alawite Mountain among His followers, and left the Rest of Syria to Itself. If the Russians dont understand this, they are also Fools and Idiots. If the War continious Syria will be completely Destroyed. If Assad want to Preserve His Religious kin, He has to step down. Arn.