Analysis: US attempts to reassert superior role with Syria strikes

In making this decision, Trump is signaling that he is not afraid of Russian President Vladimir Putin even if Russia has incriminating material from the time he was a businessman in Moscow.

By YOSSI MELMAN
Updated: APRIL 7, 2017 20:37
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One (photo credit: REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The surprise attack Thursday night is essentially Donald Trump's real entry into the world stage, three months after his inauguration.
Trump is in essence signaling that he intends to return the US to it's leading role as the world's sole superpower.
To say that Trumps decision was a surprise would be an understatement. No one expected or saw that such a decision would come only a day after he expressed his outrage at Syrian President Bashar Assad and his shock at the images of children choking to death in the chemical attack in Idlib, Syria.
In making this decision, Trump is signaling that he is not afraid of Russian President Vladimir Putin even if Russia has incriminating material from the time he was a businessman in Moscow. In other words, Trump is telling Putin, "I'm not afraid and cannot be intimidated."
The attack in Syria shows how much his predecessor, Barack Obama, was weak and timid when he folded at the last moment after Assad passed his "red line" when he used gas on his own people in 2013.
Israel was informed of the attack beforehand and the Prime Ministers Office and the IDF issued statements supporting the military move.  The American attack signals "rogue" nations such as North Korea and Iran that an Unpredictable and determined leader occupies the Whit House. A leader who's actions and words are equal.
This action can also signal to Israel that when President Trump says he wants to achieve the ultimate deal for peace, he means it.
It can be seen through that context as the reason Prime Minister Netanyahu and even Education Minister Naftali Bennett agreed to a partial halt in settlement construction, after they received more than veiled hints and did not want to upset the Administration.
Even though the US told the Russian's of the strike ahead of time, it will be interesting to see how Putin will respond.