“现实主义”外交政策分析家公开称，论残忍，巴沙尔其实比不上基地组织支持的反对派；其他人认为让各方缠斗不休、以一个一个倒下的方式打上几年仗更有利。
“Realist” foreign policy analysts openly describe Assad as the lesser evil compared to the Al Qaeda-affiliated members of the opposition; others see an advantage in letting all sides fight it out, tying one another down for years.