Obama announced on August 31 that he wanted to smack Syria but he would seek Congressional approval. Secy of State Kerry responding to reporters said there was a way out but it was impossible. Putin stepped up and said not so fast. In October international inspectors said Syria had destroyed its means for producing chemical weapons. Wow! Is this an international intervention that is actually working? On the other hand Assad remains President and continues to brutally suppress the ongoing revolution/terrorists in his country.