PN
Of two, or more, alternatives the least bad may be morally unpalatable but defensible none the less. The alternative is unconditional surrender, martial law, and imposition of control by military powers before eventually handing over to civilian authorities.
Least bad is not equivalent to good and as you point out, not moral (morality is concerned with absolutes rather than flavours.) You are correct that it is defensible but, I would say on pragmatic grounds, not moral.
RP,
I take your assertions to be part of a debate. I disagree with your rosy picture of the rule of the Assad family.