Thank you for your comment Paul.  I think we should have completely ignored the situation and let it resolve by itself.  As it is, we supported the rebels by demanding that Assad step down and probably covertly supplying arms to the rebels.   Many mnay people have died because of the continued war.  I suspect that the sum happiness of the Syrian people would be higher if the US had completely divorced itself from the situation and not allowed media touting the killer rebels as freedom fighters to influence decisions.