The American leadership wants to destroy Syria by any means possible but Russia's counterterrorism operation in the war-torn Arab country has forced Washington to support a non-military solution to the conflict, American geopolitical analyst Eric Draitser told PressTV.
"The United States has been pushing for�regime change since�2011 really by�hook or by�crook, using all means necessary," the expert asserted. "Ultimately, the United States wants [the] destruction of�Syria as�a state, wants the destruction of�Syria as�we know it and the removal of�Assad as�a fundamental part of�that."
?Initially, Washington's plan involved using rebel groups, like�Daesh and al-Nusra Front, to�carry out�a regime change in�Syria. Russia's aerial campaign launched following�a formal request from�Damascus made this impossible.

"I think any serious political observer would agree that were it not for�Russia's involvement in�the conflict in�Syria, the US would not even be willing to�go to�Vienna, would not be willing to�really take part in�a substantive political dialogue," Draitser noted.

This is a welcoming development, which, the analyst expects, will bring at�least "temporary peace" to�Syria.

Draitser warned that Washington's goals have fundamentally remained the same � the US wants Syria to�be ruled by�someone who is not a member of�Assad's circle and they want the current president gone.

"The United States has moved to�a secondary option for�regime change which is basically using the chaos and war in�order to�force a political dialogue in�which the precondition is the removal of�Assad or the so-called transition from�Assad's rule," Draitser assumed.

The analyst mentioned that Bashar al-Assad enjoys popular support in�Syria, which could be the main reason why Washington does not want him to�take part in�the US-sponsored elections, expected to�be held mid-2017. US policymakers are wary that the Syrian people could well vote for�him.

By Sputnik