Opinion of Bashar Assad

[Associate Justice PiT]

The lesser evil... which is really saying something when you think of what a bastard he is.

     Quite true. Even before ISIS emerged as a major player, I was deeply skeptical about supporting the rebellion in Syria for the simple reason that I could see whoever took power being even worse than Assad. We really shouldn't be involved in the Middle East.

[Associate Justice PiT]

There is an alternative to Assad that isn't ISIS.

Assad and ISIS alike are obviously bloodthirsty murderers who deserve anything that comes their way. Major HP. "Lesser evilism" in this instance is utterly disgusting, especially when there are clear and democratic alternatives in the region (like the Kurds) doing battle against both Islamism and autocracy.

     The Kurds aren't going to rule all of Syria, so that is a nonstarter.

[Associate Justice PiT]

No, but they might destabilize enough of it to set off a region-wide second wave of revolutions. That's the best scenario here. Another wave of revolutionary activity to end ISIS and overthrow the Gulf monarchies.

     The odds of this happening are roughly equivalent to the odds of the entire region being abducted by aliens. I would prefer the latter myself.