So, where are we with the whole Syria debacle, aka Western Civilization's continuing effort to destroy itself through the electing of incompetent fools? Ahhh... well, it appears that people like myself who found it very hard to believe Assad would do something so inherently risky for no compelling tactical reason were probably right - intercepted signals intelligence seems to say that yes, the Assad regime was responsible for the attack, but no, it's not at all clear he or any of his generals ordered it. At moment, looks like maybe a rogue element took it upon themselves to do it. Other interesting thing here is possibility that reason Obama et al seemingly not interested in UN report on what happened is because the gas used wasn't actually sarin or some such thing, but rather a powerful 'crowd control' toxin that can be lethal but is not outlawed by the Geneva Convention. That's a developing angle and not at all sure about its integrity - but that would explain why to my eye what I saw in the videos didn't look like a sarin attack to me, you weren't seeing the kind of trauma and devastation you'd see with use of an extremely vicious agent - there were clearly a lot of people who had been exposed to the gas but survived - from what I know about sarin, you get exposed at a level strong enough to produce symptoms, and that's it, you're dead.
From military experts I read getting impression that given the way the White House is so openly telegraphing its intentions suggests that if there is to be action they expect it to be a token effort, for show - if we really wanted to degrade Assad's capabilities the last thing you'd wanna do is give him several days warning to cover his ass. Now, could be misdirection - or could be just further manifestation of Obama's incompetence - but right now looks like Dear Leader simply gonna fire off a few Tomahawks to make amends for his stupid drawing of a redline. Now, am hearing a lot of talk about how a sustained campaign could force Assad to the bargaining table and that that should be the goal here - but I have trouble seeing that - one, the military assets required for that are not in place - two, what are these people going to bargain over? This fight is to the death seems to me - and three, I've seen nothing from Obama that suggests he's at all interested in taking on the huge risks a prolonged, penetrating campaign would give rise to.
And finally, to the leaders of England and France, shut the fuck up. We have to do something, this cannot stand!! What that really means is America has to do something - you people have systematically impoverished your militaries - you can't do a god damn thing without American power so stop talking as if you're integral players here - Obama let you play the lead in Libya [a role that was largely cosmetic but did allow Obama to peddle illusion that America wasn't the necessary country after all] and that idiotic indulgence managed to turn a war that should have lasted six weeks, hell six days, into a six month joke that did virtually nothing but kill a clown and incorporate a whole new legion of jihadists. Just shut the fuck up.
