Mattis is watching all of this unfold and receiving updates on movement. Its making both Russia and Syria squirm, which is good.
people still have not figured this man out. He always starts a negotiation by stating his initial demand, which is usually extreme; where he is the only winner. However, he knows this has to be a win win for all, but he’s damn willing to be the only winner. That bring true negotiations to the table...I promise you that’s happening right now and why not shots are fired. I don’t think he ever really wanted to but they don’t know that. They do know he will...they think he’s crazy and know he is no Oblunder.
Stay calm folks...the man knows what he’s doing, even if he ends up letting them fly.
I’m sorry, but if Trump does nothing now, he - trust in him - will be hurt badly across all our allies, no matter what they may think about any action vis-a-vis Syria. France is supposedly on board, as well as U.K and the Saudis, and their publics and folks in the Middle East have been made aware of that. And then Trump does nothing? It makes for a “fool me once, but you won’t fool me twice” position from our allies. Bad “policy”. It further would support the position that Trump should have said nothing to start with. Then “backing down” is something only he knows.