Politicians are stuck in their thinking that ensuring human rights means going to war. Here are 8 things they could have done to ensure civilians are better protected in the war without using military force, but didn't.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
![A handout picture taken on January 5, 2014, and released by Norwegian Armed Forces, the Danish support vessel L17 "Esbern Snare" [AFP]](/sites/default/files/styles/d08_traditional/public/im/misc/000_Nic6281919.jpg?itok=kfdaumM0 "A handout picture taken on January 5, 2014, and released by Norwegian Armed Forces, the Danish support vessel L17 \"Esbern Snare\" [AFP]")
![Vitaly Churkin, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks to the media after a closed-door meeting of the Security Council on Syria December 16, 2013. [AFP]](/sites/default/files/styles/d08_traditional/public/im/misc/000_Was8154045.jpg?itok=1trTFCTp "Vitaly Churkin, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks to the media after a closed-door meeting of the Security Council on Syria December 16, 2013. [AFP]")
