The Los Angeles Times had this about President Barack Obama’s…deliberations…about what ought be done in response to Bashar al Assad’s rudely arrogant act of crossing the former’s rhetorical red line.

One US official who has been briefed on the options on Syria said he believed the White House would seek a level of intensity “just muscular enough not to get mocked” but not so devastating that it would prompt a response from Syrian allies Iran and Russia.

Which is a contradiction in terms.  If it’s actively timid enough to avoid responses from Russia and/or Iran, it’s mock-worthy solely on that account.