[jeffc]

Those fighting Assad believe (rationally) that the US will intervene on their behalf if Assad uses WMD (chemical weapons). So what's to stop them from manufacturing a "crisis" by using WMD on their own people and then blaming Assad? What do we care what happens in Syria? For me, I just want to make sure the next regime is not as hostile to Israel as the current one, nothing more.

We are so screwed with King Zero and his merry band of court jesters pretending to know anything about foreign policy. It's like someone who's good at checkers thinking he can take on a chess Grand Master.

[DanMiller]

So what's to stop them from manufacturing a "crisis" by using WMD on their own people and then blaming Assad?

Nothing and that may well be what happened.

What do we care what happens in Syria?

Aside from the probability that what happens there may further undermine the already worse than tenuous situation in the Middle East -- where Israel is located -- and make the United States look like idiots, not much.

[Mouton]

The best thing for Israel here is if the rebels and assad’s forces continue to fight on. While fighting a domestic war, neither are in a position to challenge Israel.