Assad’s Blood-Soaked Comeback, and Syria’s Dismal Future

To judge by the statements made by the president and secretary of state, U.S. Syria policy has shifted from supporting regime change to actively opposing it. Ari Heistein notes that this is testimony to Assad’s successful strategy of encouraging the expansion of Islamic State (IS) and then presenting himself as the only viable alternative to it. Some contend that leaving the Syrian dictator in power will bring benefits in the form of post-war stability. Heistein, however, argues that an Assad victory will bring no such thing: