The only other face-saving measure would be a vote in Congress so Congress can make the decision for him. 9% of the American public supports military action.
Bingo. They (and his "coalition" backing out) are going to give him the perfect excuse to do nothing. And what other countries press do isn't a big deal.
Our press will be the same bunch of sycophants they have always been. Do you really think they are going to give him the Republican treatment? You think Chris Matthews and the rest are going to do anything but gush about his intelligence, wisdom, and leadership?
Bill Clinton bombed the crap out of Serbia on the weekend he was going to be impeached and all the press could do was gush "Wow, what an amazing coincidence that this country needing bombing on the same weekend the first black president was facing impeachment". And he wasn't even really black.