Obama: I am not optimistic about resolving the Syrian crisis in the near future

The President of the United States says he is "not optimistic" about the prospects of resolving the Syrian crisis in the near future, and that the "decision of Russia and Iran" to support the regime of Bashar al-Assad has made it very difficult for "moderate and committed" Syrian opposition groups. Mr. Obama stated at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, on November 30, that "when Russia and Iran decided to assist [Bashar] Assad in violent airstrikes... it became very hard to expect that even a trained, committed, and moderate group among the opposition [to Damascus] could maintain its positions for a long time." The Syrian civil war, which is about to enter its sixth year, began following the violent suppression of largely peaceful protests against Assad's government. Violence soon escalated; groups such as the "Islamic State" and al-Qaeda's branch, along with several allied Salafi groups, control large parts of what is outside Assad's control. In northern Syria, Kurdish militants have made advances, which have themselves faced intervention from Turkey. Moscow and Tehran are among the most important supporters of Bashar al-Assad. Barack Obama, the President of the United States, who will soon hand over to the 45th President, Donald Trump, is among the politicians who believe that with Assad in power, ending the Syrian crisis is practically impossible. Trump, during his election campaign, stated that defeating the "Islamic State" group in Syria takes precedence over convincing Bashar al-Assad to step down. However, this is not the only disagreement between Mr. Obama and Trump, as they represent completely opposite policies on many domestic and foreign issues. This issue also overshadowed Barack Obama's last foreign trip as President of the United States and his meetings with many regional and extra-regional allies. The President of the United States stated that in the future, after leaving the White House, he will adopt the same approach that he considers traditional and correct: silence and creating space for the new President to implement his policies and ideas. Obama praised former President George W. Bush in this regard, saying that Bush did the same for him. However, he added that this silence could have its limits: "As an American citizen, someone who deeply cares about his country, if there is a case... that questions our ideals and values, and if I think my presence is necessary or could help defend those values, I will make a different decision." The President of the United States also emphasized the need to maintain America's capabilities to defend "norms and international rules, which have built the modern world" and stated, "Although Washington has not always been able to support its ideals, it has always remained loyal to global security." He said the only advice he would give to the new President is that America is "truly essential in our global order." Barack Obama added in another part of his remarks that America cannot naturally solve all problems, but "if the President and the United States do not take the right side and do not fight for it, even if we are sometimes unable to implement it 100%, that is when it breaks down... there is no one to fill that void. There really is no one." The President of the United States met with leaders of several countries allied with Washington in Peru. He also had a brief discussion and meeting with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia. The United States during Obama's term and Russia during Putin's term have experienced a tumultuous relationship, including tensions and crises such as the Syrian civil war, the annexation of Crimea, tensions in Ukraine, and the growth and expansion of NATO's presence in Eastern and Northeastern Europe. Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, will take over the leadership of the country in two months. In this context, where is Trump's cabinet heading? Obama: Trump will eventually recognize the values of the nuclear agreement with Iran. Reuters: Bombings have rendered all medical facilities in eastern Aleppo non-operational. Two close figures to Trump: Romney is a prominent figure for the Secretary of State position. "A few minutes of conversation" between Obama and Putin on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru. Changing the battlefield of "proxy wars"; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump: I hope there will be no need for further action regarding Iran; they were killing people indiscriminately. The shadow of war over Tehran; "Trump is seeking decisive military options against Iran." The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump emphasizes "stopping executions in Iran": we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump says if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, "it will be wiped off the face of the earth."