not going to want to see an extreme country run by groups like nusra and other al qaeda-affiliated organizations come into power in syria. the counter forces to them will increase in the coming months, perhaps in the year should they ultimately achieve their common objective, which is at this stage to try and top typical rental jet stream of president bashar al assad. there are a lot of variables and a lot of factors right now that are still uncertain to determine whether or not the opposition should be completely shunned aside or not. >> let me ask you, david, quickly. the people doing the fighting, the most ferocious fighter, aren't they islamists? >> yes. >> that's the sad story, the ones who will take the capital probably are the bad guys. >> no. the capital is different. i should make clear to your viewers, in the north, the extremists are the dominant force. they were when i was inside with the rebels in october and they remain so. in the south, they're relatively weak. so if damascus falls, there is less chance that these horrifying groups and leaders will take control.