Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
This move by the USA considerably extends Assad's shelf life. Assad had no answer for ISIS. The USA is able to his ISIS inside Syria, because Russia says it's okay. Russia has not okayed any strikes on Assad's position.
Basically, Russia has the USA doing their dirty work. Assad is Russia's closest ally in the region, and it looks like he'll be around for a little bit longer. After ISIS has been taken out, he may take power back indefinitely.
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ISIS has been a godsend for Assad, they've degraded his opposition, strengthened his power base (alawite Shia) generally avoided attacking his forces, all the while making everyone think (as they should) that maybe we're better off with a secular thug.