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.
As others keep noting: they’re ALL bad. The ones that aren’t so much worse can’t possibly hold back the ones that are. Every option is bad. Yes, Assad is bad due to (A) being a brutal dictator, and (B) rather friendly with our major formal enemies. Problem is, if he is overthrown then we end up with ISIS which is its own major form of badness.
ALL THE OPTIONS SUCK.
The only “positive” option is for US to go in like Iraq, this time with an actual plan to fill the subsequent power vacuum - and risk full-on war with Russia in the process. No way in He11 will the Obama do that.
Popcorn? Swim out past the breakers, and watch the world die?
Every choice sucks and Trump sucks too, got it.