What he wanted to do was to act tough, use other people's blood and limbs doing it (the US military), help the Muslim Brotherhood, and expand his bargaining position going into the budget and debt ceiling showdown.
What he got was a smack down.
He has the US, domestic media firmly in his pocket. He gets away with murder, and things that any other President would be hung out to dry for. But, the World Stage is a bit more complicated for him.
When the British abandoned the issue, and the debate in Parliament (which was marvelous....did anyone watch that?) exposed the cracks and fissures in the rush to attacking Syria, Obama's pants were unzipped before the world.
Now he goes to Congress with hat in hand, something for a narcissist like him must be unthinkable.
He can moan about Defense cuts, but he is responsible for most of them (the Republicans don't get a pass here either....they have abandoned the military as well).
My guess is he wants to cut, run, and lock himself in his Mommy's bathroom before the kids on the block beat him up.