The drums were definitely beating to go after Syria, and there were cassus belli forming around the occupation of Lebanon, collusion with the Iraqi regime, harbouring Iraqi elements and wmd's, including alleged cooperation with Iraq over wmd's. It would have been a strategic prelude to Iran.
The reason it didn't happen was manpower. The United States simply didn't have the extra bodies necessary to invade Syria. To make matters worse, when the Iraqi army was dissolved, there was nothing left. US forces were committed to occupation. Had the US maintained an intact Iraqi army, then it would have been possible that they might have freed up the troops.
Of course, you couldn't do that while Saddam Hussein and elements of his command structure were running loose for nine months.
The reason it didn't happen was manpower. The United States simply didn't have the extra bodies necessary to invade Syria. To make matters worse, when the Iraqi army was dissolved, there was nothing left. US forces were committed to occupation. Had the US maintained an intact Iraqi army, then it would have been possible that they might have freed up the troops.
Of course, you couldn't do that while Saddam Hussein and elements of his command structure were running loose for nine months.