Anne W. Patterson: “There is no military solution, and the international community cannot afford a continuation of the status quo.”

I do not agree with that, Mr. Conyers, because I think what this would do--that suggests that the sources of these terrorist acts are countries like ours...

Let me stress that that is our goal, to get Assad out.

Certainly our European allies, our Gulf allies, and Turkey do see that. They are absolutely determined that he will not remain in power.

We don't believe it is possible to have any sort of settlement there, either a political settlement or any military defeat of ISIL, without the departure of Assad.