U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said he is considering acceptance of an offer for U.S. and Russian military leaders to discuss Moscow’s new assistance program for Syria. One question on his mind, Kerry told reporters, is whether the Russians intend just to help battle Islamic State terrorists – or mean to help keep Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in power.

In the Kremlin, they must be shaking their heads in disbelief. How can Kerry and his boss, President Barack Obama, not understand the two objectives are one and the same?

For four years, Assad has been engaged in a civil war against various rebel groups. Until the Islamic State took the field, he seemed to be doing well against them.

But Islamic State forces have taken vast swaths of territory away from the Syrian army. Clearly, they are the major threat to Assad. If they can be chased out of Syria, perhaps into Iraq, Assad may be able to deal with the remaining rebel groups on his own.

Moscow and Damascus have been linked strongly for decades, so it is no surprise Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants to help Assad. At present, the best way to do that is to help defeat the Islamic State.

Talks between U.S. and Russian military leaders may not be a bad idea. If for no other reason than to coordinate efforts against the Islamic State – as insignificant and unrealistic as the U.S. initiative has been – that could help defeat the terrorists.

But if such a meeting is held, here’s hoping U.S. generals do not embarrass themselves by asking their Russian counterparts stupid questions about an imagined difference between bolstering Assad and harming the Islamic State.