The release of toxic nerve agents into a civillian population, with casualties approximating the order of magnitude of 9/11, seems to distinguish the timing of the last week in August (in syria at least). It seems to be pre-occupying the POTUS and the G20, if that is any consolation to you. It does also seem that the view from within the US, at least anecdottally, boders on middle east ennui, and that this is just another datapoint of babykillers doing there thing.