Actually, what this article suggests is that if we turf Assad, set up an occupation force that stays for at least 8 years and holds elections for at least two cycles, Syria will become a somewhat free and democratic country. The question is whether we’re prepared to stick it out for 8 years and lose thousands of men in Syria. Given that the answer is no, not turfing Assad is probably the lowest cost option we have. If Sunni Muslims want to turf Assad, they’re free to send in an expeditionary force to do so.
Basically this ended up with thousands of lives lost and even then, in Iraq, there was a possible way to prevent the deaths -- coopting the Baathists and Sunnis and creating a true federal state and finally, not leaving (thanks Obama) at the worst possible time.
Syria is a special case because of its unfortunate geography as a crossroads and prize between major powers. In addition, Syria’s population is deeply fractured along religious and ethnic lines. The place has been a trouble zone from the ancient world forward.