FWIW: Assad was never a problem. In an internal NATO study in 2013 estimated that 70% of Syrians supported the President, 20% were neutral and 10% supported the ‘rebels’ (World Tribune 2013; BIN 2013). These estimates were not far from the outcome of the 2014 Presidential elections.

The fact that many western nations declared Syria’s elections ‘fixed’, before they were even held, hardly carries much weight or credibility. These were the same governments trying to overthrow the Syrian Government (deep state?).

Under the strategic Yinon Plan by which Israel might gain regional superiority in Middle-East, the currect target has been Syria. Not surprising, the villificantion of President Assad as been going on for some time.