UPDATED: Now includes a 7th Step below!
These are my thoughts on a potential plan for a peaceful, secure New Syria, after examining and watching events unfold for over 3 years.
1: President Obama should negotiate with President Rouhani in Iran, to immediately remove Assad from Syria (either through extreme diplomatic pressure or physical force). The United States could offer Rouhani a lifting of sanctions on Iran, as well as a major role in the New Syria's government, military, and economy.
2: Iran and Turkey would provide ground troops temporarily, to ensure the safety of a new Temporary Moderate Government (TMG), made up of the "Syrian National Council," (SNC) the "Free Syrian Army," (FSA) and Iranian Guard members. These ground troops would defend the nation against ISIS.
3: In exchange for Iran's cooperation on the ground, securing the removal of Assad and the transition to a temporary moderate government, the United States would provide air support, including airstrikes on all ISIS targets. The US and UK could also provide ground troops for security.
4: The TMG would offer amnesty / full pardon to any Assad Regime soldiers, Hezbollah fighters, or Al-Nusra members who are willing to cooperate and help in forming the New Syria and rebuilding the nation as a peaceful democracy. Any Assad Regime members who are unwilling to cooperate with the TMG must stand trial for war crimes before the International Criminal Court.
5: The TMG would be the only recognized representatives of the Syrian people in the eyes of the world, and a New Syria Constitution would be drafted. The UN and other humanitarian organizations would enter Syria to provide food, water, clothing, housing, and help for all the returning refugees and displaced citizens.
6: Elections could be held in 6 months to 1 year after Assad is removed and ISIS is crushed.
7: Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia, the Palestinian Authority, and Iran would unite together to form a "Middle Eastern Union," just like the "European Union," and would mobilize an Anti-Terrorism Task Force throughout the Middle East to destroy ISIS.
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There is no other influential peace partner available for Syria, aside from Iran. Vladimir Putin is busy committing war crimes in Ukraine, and Putin blocked humanitarian / military intervention in Syria for 3 years at the UN Security Council.
We cannot partner or coordinate with Assad, because that would make a mockery of every value and principle which America stands for. Assad has killed at least 133,000 civilians over the past 3+ years, in addition to using Sarin Gas on children. Assad is equally as bad as ISIS.
