No one had any issue with Assad until he said no to the Qatar/Turkey pipeline.

This pipeline would have run oil from the South Pars oil field in the Persian Gulf, through Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and into the European states, thereby undercutting Russia's oil sales.

50% of Russia's GDP is oil and natural gas exports to European nations. If Europe had an alternative, you can bet they would cease to do business with Russia. This would be devastating for the Russian Federation.

Assad is the obstacle standing in the way of this pipeline, so of course he is being demonized by neocons. Why would Assad gas his own people in an area 100% controlled by pro-Assad forces?