Dan Plesch,director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at London's School of Oriental and African Studies, says the interview was a major gaffe.

VOA: standard.2010.06.22

Professor Fouad Ajami, who directs the Middle East Studies program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, thinks President Assad is well placed to act as mediator with Iran.

VOA: standard.2009.03.18