U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s latest threat against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to begin a political transition away from Assad by Aug. 1 or risk the consequences of a new U.S. approach toward ending the five-year-old civil war is filled with intrigue, The Associated Press reports. In the past, U.S. threats have gone largely unfulfilled – from declaring Assad’s days "numbered" five years ago to promising military action if chemical weapons were used. Now, it’s just a question of what effect Kerry’s ultimatum might have. And it's unlikely the Obama administration – long opposed to an active American combat role in Syria – would significantly boost its presence...
