The problem is Assad, bad as he is and bad as Russia wanting him there is, is the least bad option for us re: Syria. Assisting the “rebels” there doesn’t make anything better, as the fall of Assad would make things MUCH worse (starting with rebels’ complete inability to take & wield power, leaving the only options being either ISIS lopping off heads or Russia performing a full invasion; under the current CiC, we wouldn’t do $#!^ to stabilize things there).
It’s not that the headline was changed by a “big Putin cheerleader”, it’s that the headline was changed by someone recognizing that the Syrian “rebels” are far from being our friends, and assisting them will likely touch off WWIII (or completely emasculate us in the world’s view). More that the headline-changer was directing blame toward our dysteemed POTUS.
First of all, the headline shouldn't have been changed at all.
The problem is Assad, bad as he is and bad as Russia wanting him there is, is the least bad option for us re: Syria.
Assad is very close with Iran and Hezbollah. Both are doing everything they can including sending massive amounts of money and soldiers to keep Assad in power. Both Iran and Hezbollah are established, very powerful, mortal enemies of the United States who have killed many Americans and stand to gain tremendously if Assad remains in power. Are you so sure that keeping that Russia - Iran - Hezbollah axis intact is a better alternative than what you outlined? On the one hand you have a multitude of terrorist/rebel groups that would fill a vacuum in Syria, on the other you have leave Assad in power and greatly empower Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah (who are arming to destroy Israel at an alarming rate along with their sponsors, Iran).
Russia is our most significant global adversary right now, with Iran and/or China coming in a close second. Anything that bleeds Russia or damages their aims of resurrecting whatever they can of the old Soviet Union is probably worth doing - just as it was in the 80's.
Not exactly sure where all the Putin cheerleaders are coming from, but they are woefully misguided. And no, Trump would not "get along great" with Putin unless he, like our current incompetent occupant of the White House, also gave him pretty much everything he wants on a silver platter.