Publication

This paper discusses the civil war in Syria and counterterrorism activities in the Middle East, highlighting why Assad is not a viable partner in the fight against ISIS. The author argues that the Assad regime is incapable of controlling Syrian territory decisively, something reflected in Assad’s strategy of keeping remote outposts throughout Syria in an attempt to claim control over all of Syria and achieve international political legitimacy. This incapacity, he contends, coupled with Syria’s close relations with Iran and Assad’s brutal tactics, make the regime an unacceptable partner for US interests.