The stakes in the region are just too high for Russia to give a walk-over this time;
Also, US officials are privately admitting that at present there is "no smoking gun" that links the use of CW (on Aug 21) to Assad;
Also, the anti-war movement in continental Europe and US has upped their voices of dissent;
European anti-war protests: in pictures
Peace activists in Berlin held a rally against a military intervention of the member states of NATO in Syria. Photograph: Lars Dickhoff/Demotix/Corbis
Members of the Greek Communist Party march with a flag in front of the Parliament in Athens during an protest against any military action by the U.S. and its allies against Syria on Thursday Aug. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Dimitri Messinis) Photograph: Dimitri Messinis/AP
A pro-Syrian regime protester kisses a national flag as he demonstrates against French and foreign military involvement in Syria, on August 29, 2013, in Paris. Photograph: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images