You need to stop reading those state controlled Russian papers. I am not defending any USA position on Syria, we don't really seem to have one. Assad is done and Russia can't change that so all they are doing is dragging out the suffering. How many grounds troops is Putin willing to send? It better be a lot because the more he sends the more people that will turn against Assad. It doesn't matter who gave his people the power to stand up to him but they have it and now he needs to step aside so the country can move on. After you start dropping mustard gas on your own cites it is pretty much over.