# Russia Begins Air Strikes in Syria.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-begins-air-strikes-in-syria/733029>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 30, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-begins-air-strikes-in-syria/733029 "2015-09-30T13:03:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-begins-air-strikes-in-syria/733029/61 "2015-10-05T20:11:17Z")

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> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> I much rather see Assad in power under the condition that he agrees to begin reforming his government. Eventually he steps down and a moderate replaces him.

Ludicrous. Assad will never “reform,” nor step down but at gunpoint. Such a diplomatic resolution would have been difficult enough if Russia, US, and regional powers had been on the same side and working for it from the beginning.

> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Any leader that tries to rule rule Syria will have to be ruthless. At least for now. Theres too many extremist factions that will never willingly support one ruler.

Like I said, reform for the Assad regime is not happening. (Do you actually think that Syria and Assad are in the present straits for a _lack_ of ruthlessness?)

Nor is anyone else, ruthless or not, going to effectively rule the whole of present-Syria-de-jure. Ever again. This state is shattered.

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