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Source: http://www.defensenews.com/articles/syria-the-bottom-line-of-political-accommodation
Syria's Political Fate
(Defense News) Frederic C. Hof - Assad believes Russian President Putin needs him to provide televised military bread and circuses to Russian masses yearning for great power status. He knows Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei needs him to keep Syria at the disposal of Hizbullah in Lebanon. Yet the Syrian economy - already largely in the hands of criminals - will continue to deteriorate and refugees will not return. The writer, director at the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, served as a special adviser for transition in Syria at the State Department.