From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

The plot thickens in Syria.

Hello again, I'm Orinalny, and this is To the Point.

Secretary of State John Kerry said last year that Syria's Assad regime helped create ISIS to distract the U.S. by aiding other enemies in the region.

Defectors from his regime now claim Assad has even attacked his own facilities, using agents he sent to infiltrate both al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Donald Trump insists that Syria is fighting ISIS, hitting at closer U.S. relations with

Syria and with Russia, Assad's ally in bombing so-called moderate rebels. We'll look at the

possible consequences of changing American policies in the Middle East where nothing ever

is what it seems to be. On today's talking point later, Native Americans claim a rare

victory in North Dakota. First, the news.

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Hello again, Warren. I'll hear back with To the Point. The latest reports indicate that Aleppo,

the last stand of moderate rebels, is about to fall to attacks by Syria's Assad regime,

bolstered by Russia. They claim the target is ISIS, but new reports indicate that Assad

helped create the Islamic

state. We'll hear what that could mean for U.S. policy as Donald Trump prepares to take over

from Barack Obama. Today's talking point, the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the final

permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline, despite the incoming President Donald Trump's ideas, we'll hear about a rare

victory for Native Americans and how long it might last.

First, this news update, the incoming administration announced another recabinet choice today,

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