Im not so sure it was Assad who did the chemical weapons attack on his own people. My gut says it was Israel's Mossad trying to force a response from Obama. When Obama made his famous line in the sand remark, that was immediately crossed, I don't believe it was Assad that did it. It was Israel. Assad isnt that stupid to antagonize the USA and I think that's why Obama exercised caution. Assad is another middle east ( I don't want to say dictator) leader who was our friend before he was our enemy. Syria's position in the middle east is of importance to Russia as NATO is trying to place nukes along Russias western front. Hence Putin and Assad pairing.