If Obama launches a bunch of weapons of mass destruction, I.e., cruise missiles, this will give Putin the opportunity to test the resolve of Obama. Strategically I could see him launching a strike against one of our submarines or cruisers that launched the missiles and then threatening a tactical nuclear strike if Obama tries to retaliate.
The fact is that neither Russia or China or Iran are the least bit afraid of what Obama would do if backed into a corner.
You will note I am using the term “Obama” rather than the United States because I do not consider the acts of Obama to be the acts of the United States. Unfortunately a lot of brave Americans may be killed if Obama overplays his hand.
My intention is simply to describe what I believe to be a national security issue in this Syrian affair. While I agree with those who have no confidence in Obama to do anything well, right, or for the right motives, I still think destroying Syria’s WMDs, chemical and biological, to be in the US security interest. It will deny those weapons to both Assad and Al Qaeda.
This is the exact same reason I supported the initial effort into Iraq by President GW Bush, I still think it was a right motive, and personally, I think those WMDs, for the most part, were moved.
Even at that time, I didn’t want to nation build in Iraq. I was fine with kicking ass, breaking things, and deposing a government. The same with Afghanistan. Whereas, Pres GW Bush did nothing illegal pushing for a policy of nation-building, it was a doomed policy from the beginning, because Islam is NOT a religion of peace.
So, for Syria, I would locate their WMDs, destroy them, destroy whatever I could of those capable of producing more, and then I’d leave with fire and smoke lighting the sky.
Syria can rebuild itself.