Richard N. Haass outlines a U.S. policy toward Syria that balances a need to act meaningfully with a need to show restraint.

Elliott Abrams says the United States must "punish and deter Assad or the damage to American credibility will be enormous."

Laurie Garrett says before American cruise missiles reach their targets, serveral diplomatic steps must be taken in order to stop the further use of nerve gases by the Syrian regime against its own people and prevent the use of chemical weapons from becoming the region's "new normal."

"The Obama administration and its allies should understand that even limited intervention would hasten Syria's demise," argues Steven A. Cook.

Richard N. Haass says the British Parliament's rejection of a motion endorsing UK participation in expected military action against Syria is nothing less than stunning.

Laurie Garrett explains what makes sarin gas dangerous to humans and reviews the chemical's deadly history in this op-ed for CNN Opinion. She then discusses the potential political implications of sarin's usage in Syria, concluding that "the Assad regime is playing with regional fire."

Carla Robbins argues that ignoring the Kremlin and putting current U.S.-Russia relations on pause is not an option worth pursuing. She stresses the importance of publicly warning Russia of the damage done to its global reputation through current policies, and the need to engage with Russia in areas of common interest, such as Iran.

Ed Husain explains why Western intervention "will not change the tide of war in Syria," but will leave the United States responsible for instability in yet another Middle Eastern country.

Elliott Abrams says the problem with the Obama administration's probable reaction in Syria is that it does not seem likely to address real American security interests at stake or the growing humanitarian disaster, and instead focus narrowly on another: Assad's use of chemical weapons.

Julia Sweig argues that, while skepticism of military intervention is reasonable in normal times, the use of chemical weapons in Syria has changed the goalposts and demands action from the world. In spite of its painful memories of U.S. intervention in its own recent history, Latin America should invoke the doctrine of Responsibility while Protecting, and partner with Western leaders as a source of humanitarian aid and refugee assistance.

"Criminal justice has been the weakest link of China's legal system, which, despite constitutional and legislative protections of the right to defence, has in practice rarely allowed defendants adequate opportunity to question prosecution witnesses and rebut their claims," writes Jerome A. Cohen, with respect to Bo Xilai's trial.

"Foreign investors are right to be cautious about Asia's short-term outlook, but there's no reason to panic," writes Joshua Kurlantzick.

Micah Zenko responds to the New York Times Room for Debate blog question, "Is an Attack on Syria Justified?"

In light of chemical weapons attacks in Syria, Stewart Patrick explains why holding the line on their further use is essential to preserving the prohibition regime.

With the latest chemical-weapons attack in Syria, U.S. officials are talking about Obama's using military force, but with a diplomatic and humanitarian twist, writes Leslie H. Gelb.

Jonathan Tepperman says Thailand's political compromises provide a good example for divided countries like Egypt, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

"A president of the United States cannot say something crosses a red line and then go on conducting business as usual," writes Richard N. Haass.

Max Boot argues that suspending military assistance would likely have little effect on the Egyptian generals' actions, but it would give the U.S. more credibility on the subject of human rights.

"The illusory belief of America's ability" to effect foreign events leads to the assumption that "whenever or wherever things go wrong elsewhere on earth, it must be America's fault," according to Micah Zenko.

"World-weary exhaustion in Washington seems to be taking even energetic diplomatic engagement off the table," reports Gayle Tzemach-Lemmon.