In a frightening escalation of the Assad regime’s war on its people, helicopter gunships now hang in the air above the countryside, shooting at civilians on the move, or turning their fire on rebel villages - in addition to the armoury of tanks and artillery already punishing those who dared to oppose.
A no-fly zone enforced by Western planes hasn't made sense up to now since Assad hasn't used air power. Now Assad is using air power.
How desperate is Assad to win soon that he is risking providing an excuse to begin escalation by the West in the one area we reign supreme (with few risks of serious friendly casualties)--in the air?