How is sarin gas different from barrel bombs? Drone strikes? Why act without authorization from Congress? If the barrel bombs and drone strike civilian deaths are shown on TV in the same graphic way that the gas casualties were, are countries justified to attack others militarily whenever dictators kill their own citizens? Where do we draw the line to halt a slippery slope of escalating violence and we becoming the world's policeman? A balance of powers in democratic governments helps prevent impulsive reactions based on TV images. We're also back to the stone-age dictum that might is right. I expected a more thoughtful column from Kristoff.