Sorry to ask such a stupid question... but I'm having trouble connecting some of the dots...

Assad is being blamed for the chemical warfare against his protestors/rebellions, correct?

Al Qaeda is being blamed behind the scenes, but why would they do this? Because Assad is Christian, Al Qaeda is muslim extremists?

Is that what the civil war in Syria is all about?

I'm not going to lie, not in the loop totally about this stuff.

PLEASE help. Thanks.