The Pulse: Chicago

Only two of Assad's dozens of chemical-weapon attacks have faced a military response. None has yielded prosecution. bit.ly/2GXGylV

If the issue is reining in Assad, I still think Putin cares more about the forthcoming World Cup in Russia--as well as the economic welfare of his oligarch friends--than a few missiles landing in Syria.

Hours after the United States bombed Syria, President Bashar al-Assad was pictured strolling into his office in a suit and tie. Did the strikes make any difference? nyti.ms/2GXf7sm

What mission accomplished? Are Putin-Assad suddenly going to stop targeting civilians (main cause of civilian death)? Is Assad any more likely to stop using chemical weapons than he was after the US retaliatory attack a year ago (when he kept using them)? Is Assad in The Hague? xitter.gq/realdonaldtrump/status…

Trump says he's not planning to stay in Syria "indefinitely" but, in something of a contradiction, suggests strikes will be sustained as long as Syria keeps or uses its chemical weapons. That could be pretty open-ended.

@sahloul @wendywidom @beckycarroll7 Amazing!! Can we fly her here to Chicago? xitter.gq/alabedbana/status/9705…

Finally it is happening. AMERICANS demonstrate in front of the #Russian embassy in DC against their genocide in Syria. If every capital in major western country has the same thing, Putin will feel the heat #GhoutaGenocide

Medical NGO UOSSM reports suspected chemical attack in the besieged Damascus town of Douma yesterday at 6am. 6 women & a child affected - medical facilities there close to breaking point.