REFLECTIONS

Dancing and Diplomacy in the Syrian Civil War

Mar 30, 2016 | 00:55 GMT

A member of the Syrian pro-government forces carries an Islamic State (IS) group flag as he stands on a street in the ancient city of Palmyra on March 27, 2016, after troops recaptured the city from IS jihadists. President Bashar al-Assad hailed the victory as an 'important achievement' as his Russian counterpart and key backer Vladimir Putin congratulated Damascus for retaking the UNESCO world heritage site. / AFP / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
A member of Bashar al Assad's government forces carries an Islamic State flag in Palmyra, following the city's March 27 recapture.

(STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Those vested in the future of Syria have danced the dance of diplomacy ever since the civil war began. They twist and turn as they discuss peace in Geneva, they step and sway through the battlefield. The ideal outcome for President Bashar al Assad and his supporters in Russia is to persuade the U.S.-led coalition backing the rebels to jointly fight against the Islamic State. Such a move would undermine Washington's opposition to the al Assad regime and aid Moscow in its efforts to engage diplomatically with the United States on other issues. ...

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