Backing Up Your Threat (Promise)

Every parent knows (though some ignore it) that when you threaten (promise) to do something if your children act up, you need to DO IT. Not to do what you promised tells them they can get away with ANYTHING because you don't have the guts do what you promised. The same applies to PROMISES you make if they do something good. If you don’t keep your promises, your credibility disappears. The same applies when a president promises to do something if another COUNTRY “crosses a red line.” If he then “backs away” from that promise as Obama is now doing concerning use of “chemical weapons” in Syria. Assad now knows he can continue to use them to kill his people with impunity if he keeps their use “questionable.” Obama will do nothing. (LA Times)