We've lost our nerve in dealing with Assad. What are we afraid of? We're on the side of the angels. Neither Russia nor China has any moral grounds to support this monster.
If they choose to support him anyway in a military conflict, that's their business. We will have the rest of the world on our side. And if Iran wants to get involved, let it. Before doing so, it should note that the easiest way to Iran is through Syria. And we will take that path and take them both out, if that’s what it takes.
Yes, there would be loss of life. Yes, it would be costly. And yes, it would disrupt the world economies. The ugliness of war has not changed throughout the centuries.
Nonetheless, there is no other way to get rid of these entrenched monsters. When the job is done, we will rebuild -- as we had done after WWII.
But we'd better act while the iron is still hot.