The Case Against War in Syria

Scenes of lifeless bodies and Syrian children suffering from a chemical attack trigger an urge for immediate action. The most likely suspect behind the attacks is Syrian forces protecting dictator Bashar al-Assad. At the very least, the regime failed to protect its stockpiles of chemical weapons. But an outraged world should be patient: “unleashing even limited military force without U.N. Security Council authorization would threaten the fundamental principles of the international legal system and, in so doing, put us all at risk,” suggest Yale Law School professors Oona A. Hathaway and Scott J. Shapiro. Self-defense is the only reason under international law for unilateral attacks. It’s frustrating for many that the Security Council members China and Russia have blocked initiatives to stem violence in Syria. The authors suggest that the outraged could both sanction those countries and do more to sanction Syria. China and Russia may comply once the UN concludes its investigation. In the meantime, the professors urge the United States not to break international law by acting alone in Syria. – YaleGlobal