*The grotesque rehabilitation of Bashar al-Assad's regime — Syria’s criminal president has been cordially invited to this week's Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia — makes sense to cynical Arab governments. They hope to reduce Damascus's dependence on Iran, encourage refugees to return, halt state-sponsored drug rackets and cash in on reconstruction.

Would it be better to maintain hostilities so that Assad is not forgiven? I'm not sure.

On one hand, peace would do a lot to reduce Syrians' suffering. On the other hand, peace could result in Assad's getting the support to conquer Rojava.