Was there ever any *realistic* chance of Assad being removed from power?

[All Along The Watchtower]

I've long thought "No", and I'm increasingly convinced that, barring assassination or something else extraordinary, he's pretty much gonna be in power for as long as he wants.

[courts]

i don't think it was unthinkable that he could have voluntarily stepped down as part of negotiations with russia. but that ship sailed years ago

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

We still debate the possible alternatives to conflicts that happened fifty years ago, with all the research that entails. I don’t know if we can determine 100% certainty only, what, 7 years in?

[dead0man]

If anybody in the west had the balls to stand up to Putin it could have happened.  I don't know if it would be worth all the blood and coin, but probably be better in the long run compared to our reality whatever the cost.

[Kingpoleon]

Yes. When a regime that is 2nd/3rd-worst on human rights is in the middle of a civil war, it should be our moral obligation to overturn that regime.

[Former President tack50]

Maybe if the US had gone with a fully fledged Irak style invasion and created a new government out of scratch (ie not with the rebels or with Assad). Then again that seems an easy way to make things worse.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Maybe if the US had gone with a fully fledged Irak style invasion and created a new government out of scratch (ie not with the rebels or with Assad). Then again that seems an easy way to make things worse.

Libya Part II would have sufficed, but because Europe severely underestimated the potential for Syrian refugees reaching Europe, it never happened when it would have been relatively easy and non-disruptive.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

It might have been possible like four years ago when his regime was at its weakest point, but now Assad's position is way too strong after being propped up by Russia to lose this civil war.

[Frodo]

There was a chance the Syrian opposition could have feasibly removed Bashar al-Assad and his regime from power in 2012 before the Russians got militarily involved, and President Obama let his 'red line' get crossed without consequence.  All they required was American airpower to destroy Assad's air force and airfields.

[Blue3]

Back in 2012, the US and others could have provided air support, like we did in Libya, creating a no fly/drive zone on the Syrian military or else they get blown up, and supplied intel to the rebels to help them capture Assad and the other top officials.