The UN's colossal failure to stop Syria's chemical weapons

The showdown over chemical weapons in Syria has moved from the debating chambers of the United Nations to the realms of reality. President Trump is threatening missile strikes against Syria's Assad regime. Russia, entrenched in Syria in support of President Bashar Assad, is threatening to strike back. That might sound more terrifying than the usual default to the diplomatic exchanges at the UN, where in response to reports of dozens killed by chemical weapons this past Saturday in the Syrian town of Douma, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for unity at the Security Council and agreement on a "dedicated mechanism for accountability." American missiles are probably not the accountability mechanism Guterres had in mind.