There may be a group of “freedom fighters” as Kerry etal like to call them, that are just trying to live happy lives and over throw Assad. Problem is we help them, then move on to somewhere else.... and ISIS or muslim brotherhood (assuming there’s a difference there) move in and take over because the government we leave behind is to weak to stand. Obammy knows this and it is part of his plan. The middle east needs strong, even barbaric leaders, to keep some form of order. And, we as a country have to find ways to get along with them.
At one time, that was universally understood and was our working principle. Back when adults and realists had control of the levers of power.