To discuss a transition that leads to Assad giving up power? Possibly. Patrick L. Smith in Salon.com said this about Russia's proposed peace plan for Syria: "They argue for a federation of autonomous regions representing Sunni, Kurdish and Alawite-Christian populations. Putin made this plain when he met President Obama at the U.N. last month, my sources in Moscow tell me. Lavrov has made it plain during his numerous exchanges with Secretary of State Kerry."

Ok. Maybe we don't trust Russia on this, but may I ask WHAT IS OUR PEACE PLAN FOR SYRIA?

I have not heard one articulated yet -- it seems to be we will arm moderate jihadists at a level that does not quite give them enough fire power to topple Assad while ISIS continues to exist and be an even stronger faction than the rebels we support.

That's not a peace plan, that's a plan for a military solution, that, honestly, I think is failing. So, again, what exactly is our peace plan and the outcome we wish to see in Syria?

So far, this plan is not working out so well.

Get rid of this butcher.

nt

Toppling dictators and tyrants can be all bluster and bravado from a safe distance here in the US -- but how does this type of policy impact the civilians living in these countries?

Lets look at the human cost of toppling the butcher Saddam Hussein:

"The tables below summarize reports on Iraqi casualty figures.

Scientific surveys:

Source Estimated violent deaths Time period
Iraq Family Health Survey 151,000 violent deaths March 2003 to June 2006
Lancet survey 601,027 violent deaths out of 654,965 excess deaths March 2003 to June 2006
Opinion Research Business survey 1,033,000 deaths as a result of the conflict March 2003 to August 2007
PLOS Medicine Survey[2] Approximately 500,000 deaths in Iraq as direct or indirect result of the war. March 2003 to June, 2011
Body counts:

Source Documented deaths from violence Time period
Associated Press 110,600 violent deaths March 2003 to April 2009
Iraq Body Count project 112,667–123,284 civilian deaths from violence. 174,000 civilian and combatant deaths[3][4][5][6] March 2003 to March 2013
Classified Iraq War Logs[3][7][8][9] 109,032 deaths including 66,081 civilian deaths.[10][11] January 2004 to December 2009"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War

And let's look at the human cost so far of toppling the butcher Assad:

"all of the following totals include civilians, rebels and government forces:

Source Casualties Time period
United Nations 220,000 killed[3] 15 March 2011 – 15 January 2015
Syrian Network for Human Rights 215,454 killed[16][17][18] 15 March 2011 – 31 May 2015
Center for Documentation of Violations 143,153 killed[1] 15 March 2011 – 15 October 2015
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights 250,241–340,124 killed[2] 15 March 2011 – 15 October 2015"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War

I think these numbers, from internationally recognized source, clearly show that attempts to topple these oppressive dictators came at an enormous human cost -- much higher than, for example, the human cost suffered in Europe as we toppled communism WITHOUT engaging in destructive wars in those eastern European states.

Again, violence is not the answer.

Stay out of low count fake Dem crocodile tear threads.

Neocon?.....bwahahaaa

Now you can leave us crocodiles in peace.

to Russia and China.

Doubt Russia helps Assad bomb away, exterminate the rest of the Syrian population out of the'goodness of his heart'

Both or them, Russia, Assad and China..not a word about the 12 million refugees. When will they be welcomed home?

When? At a minimum, it will be after the fighting is stopped and the "collateral damage" to the civilian populations is ended.

Its time for serious peace talks. What other workable alternative is there to stop the carnage?

The US government has brought this potential confrontation with Russia on itself.