It would be interesting if some national security eminence grise were to try to be honest and lay out the actual rationale in explicit, simple terms for why Syria is considered some sort of important pearl in whatever Great Game they all think they’re playing. I’d listen
Thinking that our establishment would attempt to choose the *lesser* of two evils is awfully optimistic Assad did a reasonable job at keeping order - didn't let Muslims slaughter the religious minorities in Syria (including Xtians) that's enough reason for them to want him dead