Is Syria's Bashar al-Assad on the ropes?  It depends on who you
ask.  By , Staff writer    • close     A destroyed tank of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces is seen after clashes
with the Free Syrian Army in the Rasten area, near Homs on July
29.     View Caption  Is Syria's Bashar al-Assad on the ropes?
US officials continue to present the demise of his regime as an
inevitability. But of course they would. That's the outcome they
want, and a perception of inevitability can generate its own
momentum. The more supporters of the regime believe the
government is doomed, the more likely they are to jump ship.
The bloody events of recent weeks certainly don't look positive
for him, particularly the fact that parts of Aleppo, Syria's
largest city and commercial hub, remain outside of his control.
That sends a powerful message of weakness about his regime,
particularly given that the rebel forces Syria's Army is up
against are seriously outgunned, without the artillery, tanks,
or helicopters Mr. Assad has