Under-reported: Syria’s peace process and the West’s absence

'What has been under-reported, however, is the quiet transition of leadership on the [Syrian] peace process. The United States and the United Kingdom spearheaded efforts from the start of the war until very late in the Obama presidency. Today, Russia, Iran and Turkey are now in pole position, leading the Astana Process. Who can reasonably argue that Russian and Iranian aspirations for a post-war Syria will cohere with those of the West, and especially the Syrian people?'