Is President Obama Trying To Avoid A Showdown in Syria?

Micahel Crowley, Politico: Obama avoids a showdown in Syria

Administration officials game out options to respond to Putin's provocations, but Obama exercises "strategic patience."

As Vladimir Putin takes increasingly provocative actions against U.S. interests in Syria, President Barack Obama is tuning out calls from Republicans and foreign policy heavyweights to punish the Russian president through military or economic measures.

They include a call from Jimmy Carter's former national security adviser to "disarm" Russian assets in Syria if Putin doesn't change his behavior, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio's insistence that conflict with Russia is a risk worth taking in the name of asserting America's goals in Syria, and talk of new sanctions on Moscow.

Obama's team has been gaming out options for responding to Russia, but so far there's no plan to use any of them, even as Putin keeps upping the ante.

WNU editor: According to the above commentary .... Obama is exercising "strategic patience." From my vantage point the ones who have been exercising "strategic patience" have been the Russians. They have been patient for the past few years as the Middle East unravelled, and with U.S. policy in the region being discredited with the rise of the Islamic State .... coupled with U.S. allies distrustful of the White House (especially after the Iranian nuclear deal) .... the Russians have "strategically" stepped in. A few weeks ago I wrote a commentary that when it comes to the Middle East, all roads now lead to Moscow .... this did not happen overnight .... it happened because Moscow practised "strategic patience", built the proper alliances, lobbied the critical players in the region .... and acted when Syrian President Assad was facing defeat. This Russian policy can still unravel .... the Middle East is a difficult place to succeed .... but for the moment everyone is looking at Moscow on what is going to happen next.