I'm wondering if the authors ever give a thought to what would happen in Syria if the Assad government fell? The two most powerful anti-government forces in Syria are Islamic State and various factions of al Qaeda. Had they overthrown Assad, what would be the fate of Syria's millions of Christians and Alawites?

I don't excuse any crime committed by the Assad government. But I believe they are justified in thinking that defeat would be a catastrophe even worse than what's happened thus far. Until one is willing to look at the bigger picture in Syria, including the involvement of foreign nations in the carnage,  it behooves everyone to hold their tongues.