By establishing a no-fly zone – which could be defended using sea-based missile systems – the US and its partners would demonstrate to Assad that their patience has finally run out, and that they are prepared to defend Syrians within Syria. This, together with the knowledge that his army is weakening and the pool of new recruits is drying up, would force Assad to reconsider his long-term prospects and, most likely, force him to the negotiating table.
通过设立禁飞区——可以用海基导弹系统进行防卫——美国及其伙伴国可以向巴沙尔证明，它们的耐心终究是有限度的，它们已经准备好在叙利亚境内保护叙利亚人。这，再加上明知巴沙尔军正在削弱并且新兵兵源也在告竭，将迫使巴沙尔重新考虑其长期前景，极有可能迫使他坐到谈判桌前。毕竟，在过去四年中，他唯一一次准备妥协便是在当他相信美国准备以军事干预作为对其使用化学武器的反应时。