"Who created the factions"
There were no factions during the Demonstrations - that was the point - they were spontaneous protests that were sweeping the Arab world - the greatest chance of spreading democracy this generation has ever had
The failure to realist that fully (it was partially for a time) opened it up to opportunists to take advantage - Isis has been the most successful to capitalise and to grow to the size it has.
At the beginning of the protests Britain hosted a massive arms fair aimed at selling weapons to some of the leaders being protested against - Saudi Arabia being a case in point
Diddy David Cameron went to pay his respect at the funeral of the father of the despotic Saudi Regime while a protester Journalist was being administered 1000 lashes for supporting protests
THe Tories made quite clear side Britain was on on in all this from quite early on - lip-service for the protesters, weapons fro the despots - good business practice
"Why is it necessary to make Syria yet another failed state."
the Assad's family decades old record of state terrorism, torture and mass murder make it essential that they become a "failed state and the State leader put on trial for his crimes against humanity as soon as humanly (emphasis on this word) possible.
I wonder would you have protested as loudly on behalf of Germany's Industrial capitalist Nazi State - the similarities are there for all to see.
Jim Carroll