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The USA was hardly "harsh" in its attempts to "control the people"--certainly we were less so than the regimes that came before us (and will spring up after we're gone)-the people had no desire to have us as occupiers (and who could blame them?). IMO, the USA needs to realize that we cannot force democracy on all nations and that not everyone who rises up against a government is ipso facto a hero or even wants democracy themselves. We seem to be tone deaf to cultural nuances, especially in the ME. I'm not sure if that's due to the amazingly powerful Israeli lobby here, our own special brand of political naivete or what.
The thing about Syria is the USA seems to have swallowed whole that all rebels are pro-democracy, forward-thinking, live-and-let-live types who, but for their nasty dictator Assad, would all live together in perfect harmony. This is far from the truth. I don't claim to know all that much about the Syrian tragedy, but I do know (from talking to actual Syrians) there are many, many ethnic groups and rivalries and tribal hatreds among the people there--and I do mean hatred. I think Assad's evil, but what takes his place is the real question. It won't be "democracy", not as we know it. Hell, will there even be a Syria soon?
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