Syria deal offers hope, but Russia calling shots

Sheesh. Assad will have died from natural causes long before this is solved anyway. Reminds me of that Zohan joke: "They've been fighting for 2,000 years. Couldn't be much longer."

The position of Assad should be decided by millions of Syrian voters, not thousands of foreign sponsored fighters.

If it's true that Russia's calling the shots, then Assad is probably going to be the last man standing at the end of all of this. It's basic chess: 2 moves forward, 1 move back.

US is forced to keep Assad while fighting ISIS; Russia is forced to delineate between US-backed rebels and ISIS (or Al-Qaeda). Attacks on either one leads to the dissolution of the truce.

Current administration believes in secret surrenders, there is certainly a behind the scenes agreement to end or reduce sanctions on Russia over fighting in Ukraine, or perhaps a recognition of "reality" in Crimea. They will be lucky if it works, more likely is the surrender occurs without any real peace or even ceasefire in Syria.

Obama and Hillary really blew it re Middle East policy. Russia is indeed calling the shots now.

US has killed more ISIS than Russia, while Russia has killed more rebels than ISIS.

It's just a difference in priorities. US priority is ISIS; Russia's priority is the rebels.

Good stuff!!

Obama is nut's if he thinks the rebels that held hostage 200 rights workers and behead kids would form a better government then Assad....Incorrect.

Go Russia for killing mass ISIS men that has saved mass civilians lives.

Putin has saved lives and is doing a good thing.