Obama says he doesn't want to change the balance of power on the ground.
Putin is changing the balance on the ground by delivering lots of shiny new kit.
Qatar will respond with a few hundred tons more of ATGMs.
Soon all the world's T-72s will be smoking hulks.
There will be a good scrap metal business to be had after Assad loses and the subsequent civil war is over.
This is a numbers game. There are few Alawites and lots of Sunnis.
Already Assad is using lots of foreign fighters. He would be finished already if it wasn't for Hezbollah and the Iranians.
Ironically his propaganda always goes on about the rebels being foreigners when he uses many times the number.