trying to figure it out. i think that the president is really moving as best he can through a very transitional period in the middle east. >> part of the problem, as they say, was the way we handled syria, before that the way we handled egypt. in particular syria, now you've had as a result of all the other tumultuous things in the region, you've god assad looking stronger than ever. the rebel groups we were cultivating and trying to train and trying to arm with what some said was a belated decision, the rebel group now dominated by islami islamists. we're afraid to withdraw support because of blowback down the road. >> you mentioned policies pursued by the administration. we've done from assad must go, which was our policy two years ago to looks like assad must stay on the part of the administration. so we've gone a complete reversal on that. i think it came about because united states took no action