Please , please do this . <| sep |> im sorry my thoughts and input relating to somebody else ' s comment didn ' t bring you enough enjoyment . read a book . <| sep |> It ' s cocaine candy ! <| sep |> I volunteer as tribute ! <| sep |> Swan Lake won the popular vote . <| sep |> I appreciate what you ' re saying , but the problem is the JTEs have basically told me not to use the textbooks when I create a lesson . The 2 nd year teachers are ok if I do a tiein to their lesson , but the 1 st years less so . Maybe because the texts don ' t have a clearly defined grammar section ? I ' m not sure , but this is the way they want me to do things . <| sep |> ISIS will continue losing territory . Once Raqqa falls they will restructure and operate covertly as they wage attacks in Iraq , Syria , and western nations . As Islamic State ' s Caliphate diminishes we have already seen an increase in attacks targeting the West . These attacks will allow ISIS to maintain their legitimacy among jihadist groups in the absence of any real control of terrain . I had expected a Clinton victory and an escalation of rebel support with the possibility of a no fly zone . Assad ' s ouster would have created a massive exodus of refugees as Alawites , Christians and regime supporters in general fled a potential genocide . Thereafter , as you suggested , numerous insurgent groups would fight one another vying for power in a now lawless state . However the incoming Trump cabinet has insisted on cutting all rebel support . In this case , infighting amongst rebel groups would only accelerate a regime victory , and this has been a recurring problem for the opposition . Clearly the withdrawal of U . S . rebel support works in the regime ' s and Russia ' s favor as well as their Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah counterparts . Saudi Arabia , Qatar , etc . will continue supporting their respective proxies . This continued support may allow the war to drag on , but the regime will ultimately maintain the upper hand . It ' s unlikely Assad will reclaim full control of the country , but his grip on the populated west is certain . Once again the election of Trump raises doubts on whether the Kurds will be granted autonomy . Both Trump and his future National Security Adviser Lt . Gen . Michael Flynn have recently warmed up to Erdogan . Turkey Cheered by Words of Michael Flynn , Trump ' s Security Adviserflynnerdogangulen . html New York Times I would hope Gulen is not used as a bargaining chip with Turkey as Erdogan continues his rise as an Islamist dictator . I ' m not comfortable with the YPG ' s links to the PKK , however the SDF has been America ' s most reliable partner in the battle against ISIS . Eventually the war will come to an end , but the conflict may transpire over a period of time similar to the Lebanese Civil War which lasted about fifteen years also a complicated series of proxy wars and shifting alliances , yet still not as complicated or deadly as the Syrian Civil War . If the United States mounts a campaign against Jabhat Fateh alSham in coordination with Russian forces the opposition may unravel much quicker . Likewise if the Trump administration pressures the Saudis and Qatar to withhold rebel support a regime victory may come to realization much sooner . Until the new administration is clear about their middle east policy there remains more questions than answers . Barring some assassination attempt , Assad will remain in power for the foreseeable future . Despite being a ruthless dictator his hold on power is a better option than a failed stateterrorist safe haven . Sure , Hezbollah and Iran will be empowered , but Hezbollah has not actively targeted western nations in decades . however they do pose a significant threat to Israel