Toward the end of the Syrian conundrum

The fighting in Syria, which started with an uprising against the Bashar al-Assad regime and transformed into a deadly civil war, has entered its fifth year. As of January 2015, it has claimed over 220,000 lives, displaced 7.6 million people inside Syria, and driven another 3.5 million people out of the country. The civil war has also had a terrible impact on Syria's political, social and economic texture, and dramatically reduced life expectancy. It is still difficult to predict the country's future, as political and armed struggles continue ferociously.

The differences between regional and international actors regarding the future of Syria complicate the problem. The latest example of such a division appeared as a result of a controversial statement by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in an interview with CBS News on March 15. Following a similar statement earlier by CIA Director John Brennan, Kerry argued that "the U.S. would have to negotiate with al-Assad for a political transition in Syria and is exploring ways to pressure him into agreeing to talks." Although the U.S. Department of State later clarified Kerry's remarks and reiterated the U.S.'s policy in Syria, his words generated harsh criticism from Turkish decision makers.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu immediately reacted, reminding the U.S. that Turkey's priority in Syria is to remove al-Assad and establish an inclusive government. Prime Minister Davuto?lu then likened shaking hands with al-Assad to shaking hands with Hitler. These came just a month after the U.S. and Turkey finally signed an agreement on Feb. 19 to train and equip Syrian opposition groups in Turkey. While the agreement was skimpy about the final objective of the operation, both sides reserved their opinions and the...