The New Yorker says that the US administration was forced to admit that
it has limited options in Syria and the influence of the Damascus
government backed by Iran, Hezbollah and
Russia had grown significantly. In this situation, Washington “still
wants a political process that holds the prospect of Assad’s departure.
But it has concluded that it may take until 2021, when the next election
is scheduled, to pull it off. Depending on the outcome of the 2020 U.S.
election, Assad could still be in power after Trump leaves office. U.S.
officials worry that Assad could win the 2021 Syrian election, one way
or the other, and remain in power for years to come.”
