BHO was dumb in giving out his "Red line" statement in the first place, but since the civilized world has no clear side to pick here, Nasty Butchers vs. Nasty Butchers, there is absolutely no point in intervening. What, the US, Jordan, Turkey and Israel are doing is appropriate, monitor and be ready to act if Assad's nastier weapons reach the wrong hands. Until then, do nothing. If either side acts extra stupid, shoot them down, but so long as they keep things to a dull murderous simmer, we ought not do a damn thing. We have no friends in the mix, only enemies. Sadly, innocent Syrian children are being killed, but that is owned entirely by the acting parties.

It is a confirmed fact that BOTH sides in the Syrian Civil War have used atrocities against eachother and against civilians. It is a confirmed fact that both sides use torture, intimidation, extortion, and summary executions. It is a confirmed fact that among the rebels, the best organized, trained and armed factions are the Islamists, including those affiliated with al-Qaeda. It is also a confirmed fact that the majority of Americans DO NOT WANT America to get involved in the syrian Civill War. The author of this preposterous article would do well to respect the will of the American people, and stop expecting America to be the global policeman that has the job cleaning up the mess of the Arab world.

Israel was the 3rd country whose intelligence stated that chemical weapons were used in Syria, not the first. the first two were Britain and France. The American intelligence now also says that chemical weapons were used in Syria, according to their own independent assessment. If Obama wanted to avoid his present dilemma, he should not have used words like "red line" and "game changer", because now he just looks like a fool who makes empty threats. Israel did not tell the Americans to take out Saddam. That was W''s baby. Israel said that Saddam was not the main problem in 2003. IRAN was the main problem. Not that that truth matters any to an antisemite.

there is no ethical reason for the USA to get involved with the Syrian civil war. When two rabid dogs fight, it is reasonable to hope they continue fighting until they have given each other mortal wounds neither can survive. This hope is ethical. For someone like President Obama, who is at best morally confused, it is predictable his mind is confused. This confusion might cause him anguish ( assuming he is not really a sociopath who is only interested in personal prestige). However, i don't believe Obama has the mental clarity to see the Syrian conflict for what it is. Therefore, i can only assume Obama has some vague notion that he really knows nothing, and this is what really disturbs him because, most of all, he is afraid this situation will lead his supporters to realize that Obama, their savior, was and will always be empty vapor.

The information was true. We dragged our feet to long and the weapons were moved to Syria.

Is the author aware that the Syrian government is fighting a rebellion. Any government would fight those intent on taking it over. If the answer is that the Syrian government was not democratically elected or that it is repressive, well this is true of many countries around the world. And if the rebelsI take over, what should be done to protest the Alawite minority? There are no simple answers here.

Why is it a US responsibility ? Where are the UN/ Arab League/Russia. Israel, aware of use of chemical weapons passed this info on.What others do with it is up to them. If Obama has red lines these are his. Israel has no need for proxies to fight her battles: #18 Always thought Israel stated it did not see Saddams Iraq as the threat but pointed out the danger from Iran. As for Afghanistan, a war on behalf of Israel?? If attacked from Syria Israel will respond herself and not wait for, nor rely on others Similarly Israel knows it must be prepared to rely on itself should the need arise to face Iran.

Once again you have got it exactly right. This was a mistake by the Obama administration & makes them appear weak. In addition it may be detrimental for any intervention to take place at all! It may result in further civilian casualties, regional instability and more problems down the line.......

The Sunni and Shia will have to sort this one out. The American people don't want to spend even $1 and certainly not risk even one troop getting in between this 1,000 year old conflict. These Arabs can beat each other with sticks or gas each other until the cows come home. It has nothing to do with us.

there is no ethical reason for the USA to get involved with the Syrian civil war. When two rabid dogs fight, it is reasonable to hope they continue fighting until they have given each other mortal wounds neither can survive. This hope is ethical. For someone like President Obama, who is at best morally confused, it is predictable his mind is confused. This confusion might cause him anguish ( assuming he is not really a sociopath who is only interested in personal prestige). However, i don't believe Obama has the mental clarity to see the Syrian conflict for what it is. Therefore, i can only assume Obama has some vague notion that he really knows nothing, and this is what really disturbs him because, most of all, he is afraid this situation will lead his supporters to realize that Obama, their savior, was and will always be empty vapor.

Is this writer insane? America owes the citizens of Syria absolutely nothing. China - Russia - the EU - the Arab League - Turkey - they are free to do as they like in Syria. Why do they not intervene? We are not an ATM machine the world can call on whenever it wants to extract blood and treasure. OUR blood and our treasure. This is completely nuts - we have zero interest in Syria. Let them kill each other - that is their business.

incapable of fighting a war under a president that never really wanted to be a president to begin with. He's a community organizer...handing out freebies to anyone who will vote for him. Free immigration cards. Free promises of war for the Jews... to stop Iran. Free promises of war against Syria if a red line is crossed. Freedom for women to kill unwanted children by the boat load. That's his voting promise to all his groupies....To lead without leading. Siting around and collecting a huge paycheck, to go out and golf...vacation....and make false promises. We might as well have a paper cut out of him that gets handed around to every foreign dignitary...so that they can take pictures together and worship him. He's the do nothing president.....while everyone else kills one another.

the entire world by now knows that obama's word is worthless. obama loves to play president but his decisions have been disasterous throughout his presidency.

America can't even keep the peace in Detroit ,or Chicago,or another dozen if its cities. Let the Arab league sort things out in Syruia.To begin with,when is anyone going to leaflet these people to tell them to stop their fratricide.The Hatfields and the McCoys stopped killing each other.The Northern Irish Protestants and Catholics stopped killing each other.Even the Hutus ands Tutsis have learned a bit about '" live and let live".It's time for Syria to lear,too.

Honestly when it comes to the M.E, one has to question why it is the US who needs to intervene in a civil war? This is a war for control of Syria among Syrians. Yes the deaths on both sides are horrible. Yes the use of chemical weapons is abhorrent. Yes it is clear most Americans think Assad should be overthrown. Yet the big question remains who is responsible to prevent these deaths? Clearly Mr. Bergman believes that the US is the power that should intervene. But my sources in the US believe this is an M.E. problem and that the powers there should be the ones taking charge. Where is Turkey? Edrogan can moan and complain a lot but his troops have yet to move in to prevent genocide. Where is Jordan? The only M.E. country intervening in any way is one most would hope will also fall...Iran. With the fall of the Soviet Union the ME is no longer the military playground of two superpowers. The US has just finished two wars in the region and failed in achieving their goals. That country is uninterested in another M.E. war in which they must participate. Frankly given the results found in Iraq and Afghanistan, is anyone certain US involvement would end in a positive change? Let the Syrians and their Muslim brethren figure themselves out and if CBRN or military conflicts spread outside the Syrian borders then make a move to intercede.

Kofi Annan was not force commander of the UN mission in Rwanda. He was chief of UN Peacekeeping in New York at the time. Also neither France nor Britain are saying they have definitive proof of chemical weapons use in Syria, only enough to warrant an investigation by the U.N.

You have a strategy in place and a goal before being involved in the murder of 1 million people. But instead there is a mess, when it could be Assad gone, WMD's removed and the Lebanon/Syrian flank open. Early on you had the FSA defectors (you can't get more trustworthy than those that won't kill their own unarmed people). Turkey a NATO member all they need was the weapons.

Nobody should interfere, not the US nor the UN, not even the pro Arab/Muslim EU. Why should they save peoples who will find another excuse to start another genocide, who can only live under dictatorship whether it's Asad or Taliban or A-K, who blow themselves in marketplaces or the end line of a Marathons and then blame the West for their own wrongdoing? Israel will make sure non chemical weapons end up in Lebanon, and from there across the ocean for some crazy Jihadists to try to gas down an American subway for fun. thats enough.

Morality, what morality. The American people do not see a connection between military intervention abroad and their own personal security.

Why don't they intervene? Why don't american and israeli newsgroups state that we are appalled that the Arab nations are watching the massacres in syria from the sidelines in every reference to the civil war in Syria. Turn the public eye to the Arab nations that should be involved and are not!

Former White House Republicans are hinting at Israel hand behind planting chemical weapons in Syria. So does that mean, now we go after Israel? and bomb the heck out of it? Listen Israelis, fight your own wars, and end your conniving methods.

The US, as I told a Russian cabbie years ago, is like Hollywood, all fackery. It like watching a silly movie produced in Hollywood..great for laughs, but with no redeeming value.Or to put it else..a sci-fi movie starring a being from outer space, as in ET, sheer nonsense. The US has no foreign policy, except when it comes to Mexico..Canada, Japan, .Hillary was thought of as a decent rep..she was worse than dangerous. she was obliviousto reality besides. From Turkey, to Libya, to Egypt to Iran, to Iraq, Afghanistan..to the Palestinian territories, and to Syria/No. Korea, it is impotent, unable to rise to any occasion.. Some say, its the economy stupid..yeah, while 70,000 are slaughtered and Syria gives Scud Ds to Hez, in violation of our (US) cease fire (recall). And we elected this guy, with no experience other than a community organizer, while the only war hero, McCain foolishly picked a gun toting Alaskan boob for VP. How many more will die before, we wake up and grow up? Iran has 56%enrichment..anyone read about it? When they bomb, US forces and Tel Aviv..then we will start screaming. foul, with 100.000 funerals. Boston will seem like childs play before Iran gets finished with us, and US aided by No. Korea. Add 100,000 to 70,000, do that addition. And thats onlhy thebeginning. 3 die in Boston..230 wounded..a pimple on an.......