President Jimmy Carter criticized the way the Obama administration has handled the civil war in Syria. In an op-ed in the New York Times the former president said the U.S. made the wrong decision in demanding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down.

Civil war broke out in 2011 after opposition called for reforms in the Assad regime. President Carter touted his longtime relationship with Assad and said Assad's, "most persistent characteristic was stubbornness." Carter said he told Washington that Assad would never step down because the West pressured him to. Carter said he secretly protested the U.S. decision to call for regime change in Syria.

Since the civil war began in Syria the situation has escalated. The U.S. and Russia both began air campaigns in the country. Russia supports the Assad regime.

Carter said he thinks countries with interests in the region need to join together to restore order, which will mean Assad maintaining power for the time being. Carter wrote that either Assad has a role in a political solution or the war will continue and ISIS will continue to become a greater global threat.

Story by Nicholas Carlson and editing by Andrew Fowler.