No doubt Assad is a bad guy and should be taken away. But at least the current regime is secular and there is a common groud to talk, without "holy wars"
Sorry Van, but Assad being marginally Secular doesn't provide a basis for communication anymore than talking to the NORKs as they are largely secular as well. I believe I saw a documentary that mentioned that one of the sanctioned churches of NK recognizes the fat one and his lineage as one of their gods.