I don't see much happening really. A few cruise missiles taking out a few huts in the desert. Iran and for that matter Russia have more influence over Syria than we do over Israel at this point. I suspect Syria will do nothing..we will do next to nothing and this will dominate the news cycle through September instead of the funding battle in Congress..pretty much a win for Obama..
Your casual, predictable progression might happen, just as you state but you are dealing with Muslim Arabs - two very BAD combinations. These farts are unpredictable because they do not have a rational sense of being. For them, it is all about honor.
Honor is more important than life itself and if that means killing your own sister because she looked at a boy then so be it.
Insult and Honor with NO COMPROMISE is the Arab Muslim way of life so...
don't be so sure about your scenario, you (and even Obama) do not think like they do.