So, if I am to understand correctly how this mess started, it was because, after many attempts to organize a government, Assad instilled himself as president. In drafting a constitution it was not a mandate that the president of Syria be a Muslim, and that really was the point of rebellion getting its footing?
Of course it has manifest itself with all sorts of outcomes and results...
But if this true, why is the US backing a religious movement instead of secular, which our own constitution warns us about?

I'll see if I can find it in that link that pezzy gave re: timeline