Hama. Srebrenica.  Rwanda.  Darfur.  Homs?

Will the world again watch and wring its hands while a dictator massacres innocent civilians?  Bashar al-Assad seems determined to repeat his father’s actions and put down opposition with terrorizing levels of violence.

Will he succeed?   Possibly — but opposition remains widespread and international condemnation is strong.

Can anything be done?  Yes — creating a safe refuge within eastern Turkey; providing arms to rebels; encouraging unity and providing recognition for the Syrian opposition.  While it is dangerous to give anti-tank weapons and mines to members of the Free Syrian Army, it is the only way to stop Assad’s tanks and artillery from inflicting a rain of death on Homs and other cities.

The world has a responsibility to protect Syrians who peacefully demanded basic liberties; to shrink from doing so for fear of other problems later is to give the upper hand to tyrants everywhere.