Well to overstate the abundantly obvious, when you're right you're right David.
However, do we have the time for such rare luxuries, like Russian, Iran and US agreement on anything?
But particularly in the face of extremely hostile Russian sabre rattling!
Perhaps if Putin made some sort of conciliatory gestures, like withdrawing any claim on the Crimea; withdrawing his, (yes they are, no they're not, border hopping, your satellites must be malfunctioning) troop deployments; and all logistical support for Ukrainian rebels!?
As logical as your suggestion patently is David, just can't see it happening. or even permitted/allowed, by Russian/Chinese abstention!
Rhrosty.

Assad warned of turmoil if the rebels were allowed by the West to keep fighting.

What is so bad about Assad anyway?
As I have said on other threads, a decent Syrian told me that Assad brought the Christians and Muslims together.

As for the chemical warfare, whatever was used could have come from the rebels, some of whom had deserted the Syrian army. Sue they would have taken weapons.

It might take a dictatorship to control such opposing religious factions.

It's obvious ISIS and their bloody bloodshed would be overcome if the US and allies teamed up with Assad and Putin.

The following has just come from Huffington Post. US intelligence must have been asleep to not savvy ramifications of leaving Assad to go it alone with terrorism. Surely the US and allies should now help Assad and his Syria, dictator - regime or not. Then it should be talk at the table instead of bloody hopelessness.

(copied and pasted from Huffington Post email this evening).

OBAMA: U.S. INTELLIGENCE FAILED TO FULLY IDENTIFY ISIS THREAT “President Barack Obama said U.S. intelligence underestimated that the political chaos in Syria over the past several years would create an environment for extremist group Islamic State to thrive. ‘This became ground zero for jihadists around the world,’ he said.” Airstrikes against ISIS targets continued in Syria this weekend. And the Twitter account of an al Qaeda member suggests the leader of the Khorasan terrorist cell was killed in the first round of airstrikes last week. [WSJ]

#Rhrosty

I understand your pessimism at the possibility of obtaining a UN Security Council resolution.

But it did happen in relation to the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons - after I wrote the following:

"Instead of focusing on the actual use of such chemical weapons - Obama and his Western allies chose to waste valuable time by accusing the Assad regime as the user of those chemical weapons.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced that a resolution would be tabled with the UN Security Council.

Cameron said the resolution would condemn “the chemical weapons attack by Assad” and authorize “necessary measures to protect civilian lives.” He also stressed that any intervention in Syria would have to be “legal, proportionate” and aimed at minimizing further loss of life.

Russia and China indicated they would veto such resolution.

The UN has since been sidelined as the UK and USA have threatened action without any UN Security Council Resolution as legal backing to justify any action they and their Allies might undertake.

Such action has so far proved illusory as both Cameron and Obama hesitated to initiate any action without the consent of their Legislatures. Indeed the British Parliament has already voted against intervening and any Congress decision will be at least seven days away.

Any vote by Congress for unilateral action would be fraught with difficulty and possibly invite retaliation on a massive scale.
Surely consideration should now be given to urgently securing Security Council approval to a resolution that:

1. Deplores the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian civilian population on 21 August 2013
2. Calls on Syria and the rebel forces to surrender control and custody over any chemical weapons in their possession within 72 hours to the United Nations ...

There is evidence Russia and China would not veto such a Resolution"

Again - Russia and America need to focus on the common threat to both of them posed by ISIL and Al Nusrah Front.

That threat can only be countered by military action under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

So don't give up hope yet.

There has never been an international court hearing to prove Assad was responsible for that chemical attack he was accused of.
Neither has Putin been proved responsible for the M17 reported mistake.

Innocent until proven guilty seems a farce.

The present situation in the Middle East is developing as though lessons were not learned from false accusation of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.

Syria's Assad family regime should be provided assistance by the US and allies in order to control the situation.
Teamwork is most likely the fastest and best chance to achieve sustainable peace in the region and therefore worldwide.