Another option : Increased defections from military to rebels.

Another result : Victory of the revolution.

Another option : Assad is killed or removed by participants of the regime that accept to begin a transition to real democracy.

Comment : It is possible a good outcome, contrary to what the diagram suggests. It is not assured, but it is possible. And it is important for a good outcome that Syrian people believe it is possible.

Remember, as you own said, "For every million vividly describing the messes we're in, there's barely one talking about solutions." I see your diagram is contradicting your own words. Please, receive this comment as a constructive one.

Could you please clarify your question posed on 3-6-2012?

Quoting Tallulah:

Your chart is interesting, albeit somewhat depressing. There doesn't appear to be a good option there at all.

Initially I felt economic-political sanctions should be the route, but Assad doesn't appear to give a damn, and there doesn't seem to be anything important enough to leverage a peace agreement with him.

I don't like the full military option at all because, quite honestly, no government can be trusted to go into this without ulterior motives.

Perhaps a joint country limited military intervention would be sufficient to make Assad sit up and take notice, and end his assault on his people. If this option were to be taken, the Arab League *must* take part, to eliminate or reduce the foreign intervention-ulterior motive factor. However, the Arab League members seem reticent to get involved because they don't want this uprising spreading further.

Does anyone know where Assad forces get their weapons? If it's from the free world governments, then those same governments need to balance the equation and arm the FSA as well. That said, the potential for those weapons falling into the wrong hands is great, and would result in an even more horrendous situation for Syrians.

The other problem with arming the FSA is getting the weapons into the country without Assad knowing.

There is no clear single path to addressing this issue. However, one thing is clear: whatever choice is made, it must include the Arab League, and be a joint effort, not let by the USA. Also, it must have a clear mandate, a clear target, and when that target is met, the effort must end so the Syrian people can carry on, on their own. There must not be any lingering in country unless specifically requested by whatever Free Syria governing body is set up to carry on after Assad.

I believe Assad received most of his weapons through Russia, if not China.

I appreciate that you are attempting to reduce a very complex problem, that is multi-faceted, to a simple graph. How does the chart change if Assad is removed?

It is endlessly horrifying to hear, and see, the cries of the innocent victims of the Syrian murders. It is not lost on me that Paul Conroy, journalist, finds the situation in Homs far worse than any other conflict he has ever covered. I am at a loss as to a solution right now; when you deal with a madman who has no problem in killing his own people...there should be no negotiation.

Your chart is interesting, albeit somewhat depressing. There doesn't appear to be a good option there at all.

Initially I felt economic-political sanctions should be the route, but Assad doesn't appear to give a damn, and there doesn't seem to be anything important enough to leverage a peace agreement with him.

I don't like the full military option at all because, quite honestly, no government can be trusted to go into this without ulterior motives.

Perhaps a joint country limited military intervention would be sufficient to make Assad sit up and take notice, and end his assault on his people. If this option were to be taken, the Arab League *must* take part, to eliminate or reduce the foreign intervention-ulterior motive factor. However, the Arab League members seem reticent to get involved because they don't want this uprising spreading further.

Does anyone know where Assad forces get their weapons? If it's from the free world governments, then those same governments need to balance the equation and arm the FSA as well. That said, the potential for those weapons falling into the wrong hands is great, and would result in an even more horrendous situation for Syrians.

The other problem with arming the FSA is getting the weapons into the country without Assad knowing.

There is no clear single path to addressing this issue. However, one thing is clear: whatever choice is made, it must include the Arab League, and be a joint effort, not let by the USA. Also, it must have a clear mandate, a clear target, and when that target is met, the effort must end so the Syrian people can carry on, on their own. There must not be any lingering in country unless specifically requested by whatever Free Syria governing body is set up to carry on after Assad.