Erm what? OK, my memory is rather fuzzy now but did Bush really not seek authorization from Congress to attack Iraq? This being different from a formal declaration of war, which hasn't been used since World War II.

You're right. My mistake.

The president stuck his foot in his mouth. We have no more reason to act than we did in Iraq. Especially, since there is the potential that the chemical attack was because of the militants and not the government's forces.

Putin has admitted that it's impossible for the rebels to have committed the gas attack. Assad's the only one left, and the direction of shelling also points to government forces.

When did he do that? Because it would be a pretty sharp reversal from what he said only a few days ago, and comments from his Foreign Minister reported yesterday, which were some of the most recent things I could find. Certainly most of the more thoughtful commentary I've read, like this essay by Polk, considered the facts of the matter at the very least controversial enough that I would be surprised to see Russia felt it needed to completely about-face after taking such a strong stance.

That Polk essay is a great read.

At the moment it looks like Syria is going to hand over it's chemical weapons to Russia.

Which serves both US and Russian interests (i guess both want to prevent rebels getting chemical weapons) and both can proudly proclaim, that without their contribution, the solution would not have been possible.

New report from the Human Rights Watch. Russia's probably the only one Syria trusts enough to offer a non-bombardment solution, but the deal does kinda require Syria to admit they were in possession of the chemical weapons.

I can't help but laugh at how Kerry accidentally came up with that idea. There was a press conference in which Kerry was asked what it would take for the US to not bomb Syria, and he replied with something to the effect of, "Well, maybe if they surrendered all their chemical weapons within the next week, but it's not like they're ever gonna do that". *sarcastic eyeroll*

And then Assad kind of raises his hand and says "OK, I'll hand over my chemical weapons." And Russia's like "Yeah! We'll help! Totally!"

I don't recall any other international crisis solved by gaffe. And once again, Kerry was for the war before he was against it.

I guess if the US had started with "Hand your chemical weapons over, or we bombard you", neither Syria nor Russia would have agreed. Which makes me wonder how accidental the gaffe actually was.