syria will look at this and very rightfully say, if that threat of a u.s. strike can force the syrians to the table on the chemical weapons issue, why is that same stick not being applied to something that is perhaps arguably even more pressing, and that is the issue of the need to establish humanitarian corridors to get much needed medical and food aid to areas in the country that are under siege. if we want to talk about the americans testing the russians, testing the syrians, then that should be aid agencies are saying, part of an initial plan. that's quite simple to put forward. establish these humanitarian corridors as an act of good will at this point. >> what about the russians, though, christiane? they have stood back. they have watched as washington oftentimes through the use of force, expanded its role in the middle east, in afghanistan, northern africa, looking at the map today, you have former yugoslav yugoslavia, even parts of the former soviet republic.