Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

"The Arab spring caught everyone by surprise." - Hardly a surprise. Various agencies of the US, France, and UK have been supporting and directing Syrian, Libyan, Iraqi exile groups for a long time with the expressed goal of regime change. The nearly simultaneous uprisings in Libya and Syria in early 2011 were coordinated through these exiles and state-sponsored opposition groups operating out of London, Paris, Cairo, and Doha. The simultaneous "Days of Rage" and demonstrations were timed and declared by exile group media operating with the coordination of host states, and amplified and spread globally by state-owned media in Qatar. Qatari and Egyptian special forces were on the ground leading and equipping the armed rebellions in eastern Libya, and the Qataris in Syria from almost Day One. Of course, the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq during the previous Administrations thoroughly destabilized the region and set up this chain of events. Or, were you unaware of those facts?

"The hope was that it might lead to democracy in totalitarian states, or at least an improvement in that direction. In every nation where it occurred it went differently, as each of these nations is very different." - The chain of events in each of the so-called Arab Spring uprisings in Libya and Syria, along with the arsonists who attacked police stations and snipers who killed both police and demonstrators, enraging the crowds and leading to the introduction of troops, followed almost exactly the same order and timing. If you don't believe me, look at the timelines for both at Wikipedia.

The rest of your mass media-shaped account is vague wishful thinking, and it would take a while to respond in detail. I will say here that I wish that it were as simple as good vs. evil and that the region-wide uprisings of several years ago, and the events since, were simply a matter of blunder and misunderstanding of isolated local events by Washington, Paris and London and our regional "friends." But, I know that isn't the case, any more so than the Vietnam War was simply a series of well-intended errors. Regime change in Shi'ite countries is a cause with some powerful sponsors and international coalitions driving long-term policies that are sure to create further war and mass suffering.