Even as the new UN/Arab League envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, visits Syria, analysts remain pessimistic about a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which has morphed into civil war. Joseph Holliday, former US intelligence officer, now senior research analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, and Mona Yacoubian, Senior Middle East Advisor at the Stimson Center, discuss the military balance of forces between the Assad regime and armed opposition, obstacles to a unified opposition, the increasing sectarian nature of the war (Sunni/Shia divide), regional spillover and US policy options with host Carol Castiel..