A new Pew Research poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to arming the Syrian rebels- and there is slim partisan division. 74% of Independents, 71% of Republicans and 66% of Democrats oppose the US getting involved in the Syrian conflict. So why are we getting involved, and why now? According to Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, “the President has been clear that the use of chemical weapons - or the transfer of chemical weapons - is a red line for the United States, as there has long been an established norm within the international community against the use of chemical weapons.”

The White House announced last Thursday, June 13, that U.S. intelligence agencies believe the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons in their civil conflict, resulting in the loss of 150 lives. The ‘red line’ had been crossed.

On the previous night, June 12, Bill Clinton told the audience at a private New York City event that President Obama would look like a ‘total wuss’ and be ‘lame’ if he didn’t intervene in the Syrian conflict. Was the decision to get involved in Syria based on the June 13 announcement of chemical weapons, on the June 12 dressing down by Bill Clinton, or another motivation entirely?