The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir

by Samantha Power

On the one hand, we share the deep conviction that chemical weapons are barbaric, that we should never again see children killed in their beds, lost to a world that they never had a chance to try to change. Yet on the other hand, some are wondering why—given the flagrant violation of an international norm—it is incumbent on the United States to lead, since we cannot and should not be the world’s policeman. I closed by stating as plainly as possible what was at stake: We all have a choice to make. Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, whether we have supported past military interventions or opposed them, whether we have argued for or against such action in Syria prior to this point, we should agree that there are lines in this world that cannot be crossed, and limits on murderous behavior, especially with weapons of mass destruction, that must be enforced.