Syrian rebels reject Annan's call for dialogue

[Fool Count]

19. Assad most certainly has an incentive for peace. Maybe even more than one.

One doesn't need to be magnanimous to appreciate that in war both sides suffer.
He continues to command loyalty of his immediate circle, if not a majority of Syrian
people, not by being completely indifferent to their safety, fate and interests. His
main interest may be in protecting himself, his family and his inner circle - but
even that is best achieved in context of a comprehensive peace settlement in Syria.
Presenting him as some sort of Nero-style homicidal maniac who cares nothing
about any of his subjects and is interested only in killing as many people as he can
may be a smart propaganda, but has little to do with reality. Negotiation is not a game
of croquet - level playing field is never a precondition for one. Any party would want to
tilt the field in their favor before coming to the table. If the opposition thinks that
a long bloody fight with Assad will help them to level the field - they are delusional.
They are just trying to hold out for US/NATO/Arab military intervention and any
negotiation will clearly throw a wrench into this plan. That's why they will keep
refusing to come to the table, not because they don't trust Assad or wouldn't
negotiate with a murderer. All it takes for them to change that position is for US/NATO
to stop leading them on and state unambiguously that there will be no military
intervention on their behalf.