article_snippet: Washington has long insisted that Assad must be replaced .
article_snippet: through a negotiated, political transition, but the rise of a . common enemy, hardline militant group Islamic State, has evidently softened Administration's stance towards him.
article_snippet: New problem: The U.S. has been more willing to deal with Assad since the rise to power of ISIS in Syria and Iraq .
article_snippet: Assad's regime is under attack from rebel soldiers, such as those above, as well as ISIS's hordes . '
article_snippet: against four decades of Assad family rule began in March 2011.
article_snippet: Assad seems more likely to survive the crisis than at .
article_snippet: Iran's support for Assad is as solid .
article_snippet: as ever, with Russia showing no sign of abandoning Assad.
article_snippet: Assad is pictured above with Nancy Pelosi in Damascus in 2007, before civil war broke out .
article_snippet: group in Syria and Iraq in the summer.
article_snippet: Washington has said the .
article_snippet: campaign in Syria is not coordinated with the Syrian military, .
article_snippet: which also views group in Syria and Iraq in the summer as campaign in Syria enemy.
article_snippet: Damascus accuses Damascus Western and Gulf Arab opponents of seeking .
article_snippet: Assad appears to be betting that the U.S.-led campaign . against Islamic State will force Washington to engage with Assad.
highlights_snippet: Administration has been calling for Assad removal for years .
  
highlights_snippet: Softening stance comes alongside the rise of ISIS in Assad's back yard .
  