Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Bashar Assad’s presidency looks likely to outlast Barack Obama’s.

As the United States has turned its attention to defeating the Islamic State group, it has softened its stance on the Syrian leader. More than four years ago, Obama demanded that Assad leave power. Administration officials later said Assad did not have to step down on “Day One” of a political transition. Now, they are going further.

Read full story at The Associated Press.