The United States has once again reaffirmed its position with regard to the Syrian conflict. In a statement following his talks on Friday in Moscow over how to end the Syrian crisis, US Special Envoy for Syria Michael Ratney said, “The US remains strongly committed to achieving a genuine, negotiated political transition away from Bashar Assad that brings an end to the violence... Assad’s continued tenure fuels extremism and inflames tensions in the region. That is why a political transition is not only necessary for the good of the people of Syria, but an important part of the fight to defeat the extremists.”

For many players in the Middle East, the American position is crucial for their calculations. The Syrian rebels in particular are most likely to feel upbeat once the US translate these words into actions on the ground. But, it is not as if the US is going to have a free ride. Any American move that could be a game changer should take into account Russia’s evolving position.

To be sure, there are some key impediments that make coordination with Russia on this issue a difficult task. Russia is still allied with Iran in its support to Assad and hence Moscow needs a good reason to turn its backs on Assad.

It is not the first time that the US has expressed its dissatisfaction with Russian support for Assad. To key circles in the US, the Russian role has been unhelpful.

It does not seem that Assad has any chance to prevail in the ongoing crisis. For this reason, many in the American administration are optimist that Russia would shift its stance in the end.

Thus far, Saudi Arabia has made it perfectly clear that Assad will not have any future in Syria. After he caused the death of more than quarter a million of his people, Assad’s role in any political transition is a non-starter. It is vital to understand that his presence will only strengthen the presence of terrorists. They both reinforce each other and herein lies the crux of the matter.

Now, the US subscribes to this logic. Assad’s presence serves as a magnet for terrorists. Therefore, Assad should go. Missing yet from the American calculations is that the intransigence of Russia and Iran is most likely to continue unless reality on the ground changes.

Let’s imagine a situation where the rebels tighten the noose around Assad’s neck in Damascus. Will his backers change course?

I believe that the Americans should work closely with Saudi Arabia and Turkey and change the balance of power on the ground in a marked manner.