Ford would play a key role in the UN-brokered negotiations that summer, and for nearly two years after that. Of the myriad obstacles to a solution, one indeed remained constant throughout: Syria’s steadfast refusal to consider any settlement in which Assad would lose the presidency.
Why did administration think otherwise and antagonize Assad?
And what did they think would succeed Assad if he was defeated or stepped down? Was Iraq not a good case study?
Have to admit that I definitely did not foresee Assad fostering opposition jihadists to help his cause by then fighting them. Effective to create your own enemy that you know you'll have support fighting. Distract from everything else horrible you're doing.
