PHOTO: British Prime Minister David Cameron (Dan Kitwood/Getty)


I spoke with BBC Coventry on Tuesday afternoon about latest maneuvers around the Syrian conflict, including the British Government’s retreat from airstrikes against the Islamic State and Russia’s consideration of the future of President Bashar al-Assad.

Listen from 1:26:15

See also Syria Developing: Is Russia Ditching Assad?

Britain is off to the side, playing almost no role whatsoever….Even if it had carried out airstrikes against the Islamic State, ISIS is not at the center of the conflict in Syria — it’s what happens between the Assad regime and the rebels. And that’s why Moscow’s statement is much more important….

The Russians are not saying “Time to Ditch Assad”, but they are being a bit cagier now because they would like to have a meeting in Moscow between some of the regime elements and some of the opposition.