Bombing will not solve Syria crisis
That the Catholic leaders in Syria call the recent US air strike “reckless” does not tell the whole story (The Church in the World, 15 April). It was also illegal.

Article 51 of the United Nations Charter does indeed give attacked states a right to immediate military self-defence. This is a permission valid only until the Security Council has taken measures “necessary to maintain international peace and security”.

But the United States has not been attacked. The charter gives no right to any member to conduct punitive military action, without authority, against another state. Indeed Article 24 confers, on the Security Council only, “primary responsibility” for the maintenance of international peace and security.

If the Security Council takes no action or is blocked by the veto, which both major powers have used frequently, the General Assembly has a right (and duty?) to take action.We ignore the UN Charter at our peril.