The President of the United States should NEVER "back down" from Russia or anybody else. We never should have gotten involved in Syria's civil war in the first place.
Unfortunately, if or when Obama backs down from his crazy idea of punishing Assad for allegedly using chemical weapons it will now appear that the United States has indeed back down because of Russian threats. The longer this ordeal goes on the worse it makes us look.
Best thing for our government can do at this point is concede that we have no concrete evidence that the chemical attack was carried out by the Assad regime therefore have no reason to punish Assad by bombing Syria and killing even more innocents.
Best thing would be for the country to stand up to our government, and punish those pushing for an ILLEGAL WAR. For their own personal gain.
and punish them so brutally and mercilessly that NO ONE will ever forget what happens to those that put self before their duty to US.
If found guilty, of course.