“In a fair and monitored election it is, IMO, almost certain that Assad would be re-elected as the leader of Syria.”
Something beats nothing. No one has ever been allowed to gather a following to seriously run. A really fair election would be preceded by a period of freedom sufficient for real candidates to develop, and other political parties to form.
Assad’s Ba’ath Party is the last ruling party on Earth, based upon the the same ideological foundation as the Nazi Party - socialism based on race.
If an election were held and a pro-Sharia Sunni came to power like in Egypt? Would you be ok with that?