Hate to break it to you, but we are not the good guys.
Ive know that for decades. The problem is far to many do see us or themselves as the good guys.
2) The airstrikes have not been in support of Assad. As far as I know, no airstrikes have targeted ISIL units that were engaging Assad's forces, they have been focused on preventing and/or slowing the advance of ISIL against the Kurds, Yezidis, and Iraqis. Which is a very noble cause in my opinion. A lot of ISIL slimeballs have been killed and a lot of minority groups have been saved from genocide already.
We are targeting the group selectively. This costs IS money, supplies, equipment and man power. All of which will effect the Syrian side of the war. I understand the idea of humanitarian goals. My problem is this should have been the goal decades ago, especially in the first Gulf War after we left the Kurds hanging with Saddam.
3) I cannot imagine that any of the Kurds, Yezidis, Assyrians, or Shia, anywhere near the frontline with ISIL would be against our airstrikes. And they are the only people that count in this. Not some random cynical Muslim complaining about Western intervention from his computer in his comfy house.
No doubt. However we are keeping some of the resistant groups going. The Iraqi Army is a failure. The Shia militant groups are the same groups America paid off during the occupation. Groups that we should not aid in any way. Many are just as bad as IS.
4) What are the questionable acts of the Iraqi government?
The removal of Sunnis from the military, the incompetent leaders put in charge and the government which questionable at best. Maliki is a nobody supported by American. He has already used his power far beyond his position should have such as using the military against his political opponents.
5) I do not trust either Assad or any of the rebel groups either. IMO the Kurds are the only progressive force in Syria, they are the only group we should be defending. So far that is more or less what Obama is doing, but his plan to train and fund rebel Islamist groups, that is the part of the plan that gets a bit iffy IMO...
A problem I see is if the Kurds come out on top after the dust settles what is to stop them from starting up the decades old conflict with Turkey again. The whole area is a mess. This conflict could pay the way for another one down the road.
The awful results of the Arab Spring suggest to me that the region is not yet ready for a transition to democracy. Perhaps the best Syria can hope for is a leader that can restore order and protect minority groups from being wiped out. I know Assad is a bad guy, but he seems like the best candidate for achieving those two limited goals.
The Arab spring failed to either remove institutionalized power bases such as the military in Egypt or replaced the old system with a group just as bad but far harder to control as in Libya.
This goes back to the whole the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Many fail to see these supposed friends are rabid dogs.
Topic: Russell Brand.