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The US Forecasts Assad’s Stay Till 2017 | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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bashar al-Assad


bashar al-Assad

bashar al-Assad

Obama’s administration predicts Assad will rule as long as March 2017, describing it as the best route to take during the Syrian political transition, according to a document obtained by Associated Press in Washington.
A timeline prepared for U.S. officials dealing with the Syria crisis sets an unspecified date in March 2017 for Assad to step down from presidency and for his belonging inner-circle officials to depart.

However, March 2017 would be over five years after Obama first called for Assad to leave, and even out lasts Obama’s presidency by two months.

Moreover, several obstacles lie before this blueprint to end five years of civil war, which has killed over a quarter-million people and created the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, can take hold.

The civil war not spawned the aftermath of any given atrocious war, but also allowed ISIS to establish some a so-called caliphate across Iraq and Syria.

Adding to that, the American concept completely neglects the Syrian opposition affirmed desire of Assad’s departure as soon as possible.

Apart from the region facing general turbulence, and Iran persistently overthrowing the balance, but the impact the blueprint will have on Syria negotiations remains vague.

The whole image of Assad remaining in rule overlooks the desires of thousands Syrians, the principal itself proved non-negotiable for the Syrian opposition in the Riyadh conference. Some would even say that the US is completely overlooking its allies in the Middle East, and implementing timelines without taking the Syrian Opposition into consideration.

According to the AP, the timeline reads at the March 17 point: “Asad relinquishes presidency; inner circle departs.” The document uses the U.S. government’s preferred spelling of Assad. Syria’s new government would assume full powers from the transitional body after the parliamentary and presidential elections in August.