Analysts Say We Will Have To Coordinate With Assad To Go After ISIS

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The Obama administration has flatly ruled out working alongside the same regime that has committed large-scale atrocities during the Syrian civil war. But several military and counterterrorism analysts believe the U.S. may be left with limited options should it go after ISIS in the region absent a tacit agreement, at the very least, with Assad.

Unilateral action, some argue, would expose the U.S. to a number of risks -- be it the downing of one of its military aircraft or gaps in intelligence that would make a successful bombing campaign against ISIS difficult to execute.

“Probably the greater risk is that there's an unintentional hit. I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that they would target U.S. aircraft,” said Ken Sofer, an associate director for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress. “The Assad regime is very worried that even if the U.S.' main target in Syria is ISIS, would the U.S. do a double strike against the Assad regime and ISIS?"
Seizing on an opportunity to legitimize his government, Assad has said he is open to partnering with the U.S. against ISIS and warned the Obama administration against acting unilaterally.

Karl P. Mueller, a senior political scientist with the RAND Corporation, said that while the U.S. could have some success acting on its own against ISIS, there are a few reasons why the government might want to take Assad up on his offer.

“It reduces the chance of an aircraft getting shot down, depending on where the ISIS targets are,” Mueller said, pointing out that surface-to-air missiles would be of greater concern if targets are close to the Syrian front lines. “You also conceivably could want to coordinate, because Assad has intelligence that would be useful to you in terms of location of the targets.”

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