steve fish is a policy adviser —— jim matias.ave been there. steve, this is pretty significant. would it be fair to describe it as the most significant escalation in the middle east since the start of the war in syria?” don't think so, not necessarily. i really think none of the major actors in this really want an escalation beyond what's happened today. i think this mightjust be... putin certainly does not want a showdown with the united states. trump does not want one with putin, in fact trump does not want one with putin, infact trump trump does not want one with putin, in fact trump wants to get out syria. the british and french wanted to make their displeasure clear with the use of chemical weapons, they have done that. this is largely a symbolic act. if it escalates from here we will look back and say this is the beginning of something big but i don't think anyone has an in pushing it further right now. trump had to say he was tough and after his hasty tweet a few days ago when he said, hang on, russians, we're coming, he h