balance of power. assad will remain in place as will opposition. if anything, the strike might embolden opposition forces to fight on rather than surrenderer and the bloodshed will actually intensify. the long-term prospects for peace in syria remain very gloomy. no matter the complications, in the short term, the president struck a blow against evil for which i congratulate him and if he was moved to action because he say heart wrenching pictures of children, that's fine. i would only ask that he look again at the images, perhaps they would move him simply not to drop bombs but provide more aid and food to these war-torn people and perhaps they would move him to let some of these people escape their misery and find a home in america. for more, go to cnn.com/fareed and read my washington post column this week and let's get