The protests against this dictatorship have grown for almost a year, as has the brutal military response. Members of the regular Syrian Army have defected to the Free Syrian Army. Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas support Syria. The Russians and Chinese vetoed a UN resolution for a non-violent solution to the conflict, and Russia, like Iran, is arming the government. All nonviolent solutions are exhausted. The Free Army is outgunned.
The overthrow of Assad is in America's national interest; it will deprive Iran of a critical ally and break its link with Hezbollah and Hamas.
The U.S. should initiate and a join a coalition of the willing, including our European allies and the Arab league, to arm and train the Free Syrian Army. Our aid could be indirect, through states opposed to Assad.