I would say it is the result of US screwing up in the Middle East. Removing dictators and hoping the primitives in those countries would become freedom loving, tolerant people was a colossal error. As far as I can tell, Assad is one of the few sane people left in the Middle East and is certainly no worse than the rabble that wants to depose him.
There is no good side there.
It sure was! You can't "give" freedom and democracy to people who have no idea what it means, and who haven't fought, shed their own blood and died for it.
In short, freedom isn't a gift, it has to be earned.
History tells us that time and again.