In a single day, U.S. policy toward Syria shifted from strikes to diplomacy, projecting strength against ISIS while negotiating behind closed doors with the regime. Lifting sanctions is framed as a chance for change, but it carries risks: for Syrians, it could mean rebuilding or renewed repression; for the U.S., either regional stability or legitimizing a government tied to past atrocities. History will judge whether this was strategy or a gamble.
