"Can't read my poker face"

Has the West got it wrong twice: Iraq (not questioning the intelligence); Syria (too cautious)? The current stalling has allowed Putin a foot in the door. And Russia essentially is allied locally with anti-US sentiment (currently more-or-less a Shia diagonal along Iran-Iraq-Syria into Lebanon (Hezbollah)) for commercial but also politico-strategic reason. Putin has played his poker face. Right or wrong if push comes to shove, if not the US, then ultimately Israel will call their bluff.

Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun.