here is the question that most of congress is just rushing right past without asking. why would assad use chemical weapons? knowing that it could provoke this kind of intervention that is being contemplated now. well, there is a book that can help answer that question. "the dictator's handbook." that is a real title. why bad behavior is almost all good politics. today, co-author alistair smith said that assad does not use chemical weapons to punish the rebels, but to send a signal to his core supporters. first of all, using chemical weapon has absolutely cemented for assad that there can be no soft landings, that has two effects, the domestic and the coalition that they should stick with him. he is there for the long run, and there is no easy way out for him, and so they know they won't