He wanted to oust Assad, but the American people would not go for it.
After Benghazi, there were serious questions about a series of governments destabilized in North Africa and the Middle East, to the obvious advantage of groups not aligned with American Interests.
People also noticed that while Assad will ruthlessly hold onto the reins of power, he was not murdering Christians, unlike the people who were taking over the destabilized governments.
The Egyptians threw Morsi out, despite his Muslim Brotherhood ties, because murdering Christians is bad for the tourist business.
The media have done a spectacular job of not reporting the salient points, likely to avoid presenting Hillary or Obama in a bad light and thus being denied access to the halls of power. Being there is an important status item for reporters, even to the point that they fail miserably in their jobs in order to retain that status.
Delivering an unbiased account of failure would cost them that status. Look at how Sharyl Atkisson (formerly CBS) was back-benched over Fast and Furious.
And all that said.
I want someone, anyone, to ask and demand this administration to answer a simple question.
"Who is this administration negotiating a ceasefire and political resolution with?"
And that is just the first question.