In his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said President Bashar al-Assad cannot sustain his hold over Syria.

James Clapper: “I personally believe it’s a question of time before Assad falls, but that’s the issue. It could be a long time, given the protracted—I think two factors here, is just the protraction of these demonstrations, the opposition continues to be fragmented. But I just—I do not see how he can sustain his rule of Syria.”