A descent into chemical-weapons hell has been averted, almost certainly permanently: the Assad regime knows that it has no friends or protectors left should it cross that red line again. Military intervention, with all of its problems, has been avoided for now; but Assad knows that the US will have no option but to attack – with or without explicit Security Council and Congressional resolutions – should he perpetrate another such horror.
在这样的背景下再看看奥巴马取得的成绩。堕入化武地狱的恐怖局面已经避免，而且几乎肯定具有永久性：阿萨德政权知道如果再次越过红线朋友和保护伞都将不复存在。能造成诸多问题的军事干预至少目前得以避免；但阿萨德知道不管有没有明确的安理会和国会决议，如果他再次进行这样的恐怖活动，美国将别无选择只能干预。