An interesting and real possibility. However, I think VDH is making a strong case for going public with such a message. It is one thing to quietly tell Syria's leaders that we will dismantle their government through force if anything happens. It's another to announce to the Syrian public that we will torch their homes if their government back an attack.
That said, given the complicity of our media with the enemy, I'd recommend waiting until after the election before announcing such policy. To do so beforehand would lead the media to paint Bush as a latter day Goldwater, bent on nuking the world.