Did Hagel and Kerry scotch the Syrian regime change operation?

[leveymg]

10. Removing Assad, personally, isn't the point for the U.S. or Israel. He's a convenient boogey-man

but considered no better or worse than any of his regime circle. The strategic goal all along, I conclude, was to turn or neutralize Iran's major ally in the region. That much has been, to a very great degree, already accomplished, but in the process the fires of the Sunni-Shi'ia divide and Salafi terrorism are raging out of control across MENA, and the US and NATO are in no position to stop it. That would take the cooperation of KSA/GCC, but the Saudis and Emirs are the major sponsors of Sunni radicalism and the Gulf Arabs are reaping enormous prestige rewards from their financial backing of this stage of Jihad. Ultimately, that puts them in direct conflict with the U.S. and the west, as well as Iran and the Shi'ia, and to a lesser degree with Russia and China.

I see this situation of shifting alliances, covert warfare, and secret treaties is as perilous as that in Europe just before World War One.