I think Putin sent him a clear message that if you arm the rebels be prepared, as we will destroy them openly.
What does this all mean? It means that we have a weak cowardly president who in a very short period of time, probably days, will be challenging Obama openly in the press on the battle field.
Obama will not fight, he will back down...as he's trying to do now. Putin will push the envelope. Obama will then try some covert maneuver and be squashed.
It could be a real game changer. Bottom line..Assad remains in power...Hezbollah strengthened and the threat of war with Isreal.
Meantime Iran pursuex their nuclear weapons, and we're mired in Afghanistan.
What a sad statement it is when Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are right, and the POTUS is wrong.