The key IMO is that if you're going to do it, you need a plan, and you need to follow through, and you have to have an idea of what that end goal is. Half hearted, half baked, and half cocked is a poor way of dealing with a situation that is as complex as any countries civil war.
If we are going to do this, we need to clearly define what we see success is. Is success deposing Assad? Is success making Syria fully democratic and peaceful? Are you willing to commit to years long occupation, and spend the money to achieve that? Can the American people see a real tangible benefit for it? Are you willing to provide for the veterans properly when they come home broken?
If you can't answer those question with confidence, and with a plan, than stay away, and don't do much more than lob a few missiles for show. I know it sucks, and despicable to allow that bad person Assad gas people, but things like these are giant black hole cesspools of despair where there very few winner, and most people are losers.
