Does Peace Have a Chance in Syria?

The Geneva conference that led to a nuclear deal with Iran last month also established Geneva II. Scheduled for January 22, it would be the first meeting between the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces. With 125,000 dead, one million starving and three million refugees in Syria’s civil war, the goal is a “transition government.” But President Assad says he’ll never step down, rebel forces are so divided they’re fighting among themselves, and all sides are battling to gain advantage on the ground. Is that where the issues finally will be decided? We look at the prospects for a “diplomatic solution” and what’s at stake for Russia, the US and the rest of the Middle East.