I read yesterday that Russia has mounted an alternative facts campaign the gist of which is that all the business of Russian collusion in the gassing civilians in Syria is part of a big conspiracy to make Russia look bad. Well, we’ll see how this plays out, but I’m not much worried. The late Soviet Union and its successor state, the Russian Federation, have an historical practice of lying, and, to give credit where credit is due, have succeeded fairly well for amateurs. But now they are going up against the Father of Lies in D.C., and our Liar and his minions can out-lie the Russians any time.

However, I am worried about Bashar al-Assad. Assad, may not be a major player in the world of violence, but he plays like a pro. He is so ruthless that he makes our old enemy Sadaam seem scrupulous. Assad and his gang are fighting for their lives, for if their foes prevail in Syria, they and many of their families will be slaughtered for sure. Some coalition of interests may out-maneuver or overwhelm Assad, but one-on-one he is much tougher than the real-estate agent from N.Y. City.