Time to Make Nice with Assad
Nicholas Noe, The New York Times | February 9, 2012
The violence in Syria could result in a full-blown civil war. ++ The controlled collapse of the Syrian regime is not possible considering that the army, the elites, and other segments of society still support the government. ++ With support from Iran and Hezbollah, Assad has the means to prolong the conflict. ++ A drawn-out struggle might ignite sectarian violence in the region. ++ The West must make a deal with Assad in order to stabilize the region and afterwards work to gradually open up Syria’s political system.
