The more I read about and see stories on this situation, the more I have to wonder if something more couldn't be done. It seems the outside world is impotent in confronting this tragedy. I recognize the potential of arming groups who are nebulous or unknown, but there are groups that are tracking fatalities and loyalist abuses, such as the Local Coordination Committees (LCCs) and the Syrian Network for human Rights - groups that might be in a position to direct arms in a responsible way. Then there are Turkey and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries who are in a position to direct the flow of arms to opposition entities. One way or another, this needs to stop.

Kosovo was a precedent - a situation where we went in (with air cover, at least) to curtail the slaughter of innocents. One of the instigating reasons of us helping out with Kosovo was the slaughter of innocents in Bosnia by the Serbs - a situation where the world sat on the sidelines and wrung its collective hands.

At the very least we should look the other way if Turkey and others seek to arm the opposition. We could also provide intelligence to the opposition. Without help these people will get slaughtered until there is no one left to slaughter. Is that what we want?