America in particular was put in a bind. There was no love for the ruling regime, but none of the rebel groups was going to be any better, and some could actual

America in particular was put in a bind. There was no love for the ruling regime, but none of the rebel groups was going to be any better, and some could actually be far, far worse. Politically this is one of those things you can't win. If the US went to bat for the regime they lose, everyone will be horrified, and if they back the rebels they end up with another Libya which is still a total mess. Decades ago this could have been avoided by dealing with the regime head-on, by helping to foster a better political environment without meddling, but that point is long past. Now it's Russia and the US taking turns beating the hornet's nest.