Why Taking Out Assad May Be a Bad Idea

Guest: David Alpher, PhD, Adjunct Professor, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University The latest effort to bring relief to the humanitarian crisis in Syria entails a series of “safe zones” hashed out by Russia, Turkey and Iran. But it’s unclear how those safe zones will be enforced and whether Syria President Bashar Al Assad’s regime will fully cooperate with the cease fire. Assad’s presence in Syria remains a major sticking in negotiations toward lasting peace for the embattled country. The US and other members of the UN have called Assad a barbarian, a butcher and a war criminal for his attacks on Syrian civilians, including the use of chemical weapons. But ousting him by force would not solve Syria’s problems.