Roger Andrews, writing at Euan Mearns' site, has just demolished the claim that the Syrian uprising was something to do with climate change. Firstly with an analysis of rainfall changes in the country:
The average [change in rainfall] for all seven stations was 7% below the pre-2006 average, decreasing to 4% when only the five “cropland” stations (Lattakia, Aleppo, Kamishi, Hama and Damascus) are considered...
When the Palmer Drought Severity Index is analysed, it's the same story. These:
lend no support to the claims that Syria suffered severe and widespread drought after 2006.
There is also some very interesting analysis of what may have been behind the Syrian uprising (our old friend the government).