Conference participants recounted some of the main questions raised when nations consider intervening in communal conflicts. Two questions usually arise first. These two influences are often found in tension. Conference participants agreed that more consideration should be given to the costs of inaction that tends to be given currently. The conference participants suggested that genocide should be recognized as a moral threshold.
Genocide requires international intervention.
This is a key question, since it summarizes so many basic concerns. This is the question which most tends to frame domestic and international debates over proposed interventions. Given the United States' present status, conference participants agreed that the U.S. must take a leadership role in building an effective international system. U.S. failure to participate would undermine the power and credibility of any other international system or undertaking. However, the U.S. will need to share power with other nations.