Hasn't the US been trying to overthrow the Assad regime since the beginning of the conflict?

[Fast Walker 52]

Our main strategy has been funding rebel groups, and according to some sources, arming them. And of course we sell arms to the Saudis, who pass them on to Syrian rebels.

But it's weird how no one talks about this, and acts as if we have been on the sidelines.

Of course it's arguable about how much effect we've had on the conflict. Some people think not much, some people think we should have done more, some people think the civil war would not have persisted without our influence.

However, there's little doubt that the US has been trying to overthrow and support efforts to overthrow Assad for quite some time, to some degree.

But like there was this long discussion on Democracy Now about how Syrians wanted Assad gone and were happy Trump did something (appallingly IMO), with no discussion of what we have done. And this doesn't seem to be in the mix with any of the talk about Trump's missile strike.

https://www.democracynow.org/2017/4/7/trump_shocks_world_in_direct_us

https://www.democracynow.org/2017/4/7/peace_advocates_if_trump_wanted_to

ALIA MALEK: Yes, that is what he said. But what his actual motivations were, I think, remain to be seen. My reaction is that there are a few things that are clear—one, that President Trump has distinguished himself from his predecessor, in that he’s shown he’s a man of action. He has asserted—or the appearance—or, you know, he’s created the appearance of sort of asserting a kind of independence from Russia, which, given the intrigue surrounding the Russian involvement with his election, is something that would have a benefit to him.

Just seems bizarre how this fact of US policy is ignored.

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. I think US policy has been to give the impression

That we want Assad out. But, that means WWIII, the End Times, Revelations, the Apocalypse, every bad movie ever and two good ones.
Russia cannot lose in Syria. Economically, they will have to take all of Ukraine and even then they will be beaten.

We are also, technically, on the side of ISIL, who also want Assad removed, and replaced with an ISIL supporter. The US has nothing to gain in Syria, Russia has everything to lose there.

[Fast Walker 52]

2. Right-- it's probably the most complex civil war ever... but let's not pretend we haven't had a role

there. If nothing else, we've sold weapons to the Saudis and Turks, who have passed them on to ISIS and other rebels.