'With the status quo the initiative will continue to remain with Assad.”

"... “One of two things will inevitably happen. Either we get engaged and we turn this around, or Assad is able to reassert control to the point where [the administration will] make up the excuse that we can’t salvage this situation anyway,” he said. “I don’t know which result it’s going to be, but I do know with the status quo that the initiative will continue to remain with Assad.”.."