Even if there really once were some idealistic democrats among the so-called Arab Spring rebels, any group that continues to fight Assad's government forces today while ignoring the vastly greater danger of ISIS is in effect supporting the latter. Whatever one thinks of the admittedly despotic regime, it is secular and relatively enlightened, and up to the present turbulence, provided much-needed stability. Apart from the Kurds in the north, Assad's forces are Syria's only hope. The Russians are right to support them - if only from enlightened self-interest!