It seems that Obama has to be seen to be doing something - although you might be right in suspecting that it may well be futile.

Staying in power is about confidence - Obama arguably can't just stand back. When you rise to what arguably constitutes an colonial empire as America has (in the Latin sense of a paternal obligation of a foreign land) then there are always threats to this. You may well lament that America finds itself in this position and not without cause but it seems that it is one that cannot be dispensed with quickly or easily. Obama arguably has to appear strong - a lot seems to ride on confidence of this, vis: protecting image on an international stage.