Secretary of State John Kerry stated that Vladimir Putin “understands that Assad is a major blockade” to solving the problems in Syria in an interview conducted on Tuesday and broadcast on Wednesday’s “On the Record” on the Fox News Channel. Kerry stated that Putin “accepted the idea of a dual-track effort, and he indicated a willingness to try to work through a political transition” in Syria. He also expressed hope that Russia would “join in the effort to fight ISIL, but also to be part of a political track, because you have to do both at the same time, in order to try to come to a political resolution with respect to the transition to a government of credibility and a government of capacity in Syria.” Kerry added, “I think what he wants is a solution to the problem, and he understands that Assad is a major blockade to do that. Has he turned around and said, you know, I’m going to kick him out? No, he hasn’t said that yet. What he has said is he’s prepared to have a political process, and the end result of that process is really up to the Syrian people. So, there may be