The current chaos in Syria seems to defeat any reasonable prescription, even if its genesis is all too obvious to anyone who isn't viewing it from the preconceived position that most western politicians take. Let's just observe that we don't hear the phrase
"Arab Spring" too much these days.
One source of excellent reporting on the region comes from what many might regard as an unlikely source, namely the New York Review of Books whose website makes some of the content available to non-subscribers. The following link is from a recent issue and describes the activities of the Kurdish opposition. The Kurds are in the unenviable position of having their heartland split between Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran and have been steadily consolidating their interests over many decades, against fierce opposition, with the ultimate objective being an independent Kurdistan.
It may well be that the Kurds are the only faction likely to come out of the current conflict with any benefit. Of course the Turks (who have contributed hugely to the current devastation of Syria) are scared witless of an increasingly militarily equipped and experienced Kurdish autonomous region. The article's well worth reading by anyone with more than a superficial interest in the conflict.
The Syrian Kurds Are Winning! by Jonathan Steele | The New York Review of Books