An agonising dilemma

IT has become hideously familiar. Pictures of traumatised Syrian children, eyes streaming, foaming at the mouth, following a gas attack. The Assad regime and Russia deny involvement. The international community doesn’t believe them. Reprisals are threatened and the world looks on anxiously.

It’s a heartbreaking situation for which Assad and Putin bear a huge responsibility and richly deserve to be punished. But will launching more cruise missiles into this maelstrom really improve the situation?