Secretary of State John Kerry said today that the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria against civilians is “inexcusable” and “undeniable”. “This international norm cannot be violated without consequences,” he said. “Chemical weapons were used in Syria. The Syrian regime maintains custody of these weapons.” The most recent use of chemical weapons in Syria, which Kerry alluded to in his speech, claimed the lives of between 1,000 and 1,800 people, according to the U.S. State Department.

A response has not yet been decided on by President Obama and the White House. There currently is no timeline for when such a decision could be expected. Calls for military action have already come from several U.S. Allies, including France and Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, “In Syria all red lines were crossed, but the U.N. Security Council has not been even able to come up with a resolution… This event is one that cannot be ignored anymore.”

Assad has said that the U.S. will fail if they attempt to intervene with military force. “The U.S. faces failure just like in all the previous wars they waged, starting with Vietnam and up to our days,” he said. Russia, Assad’s ally, opposes military intervention and said that any military intervention in Syria without a U.N. mandate would be a grave violation of international law.

Additional Resources

The Wall Street Journal, U.N. Inspectors Fired On as Governments Weigh Syria Response: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323407104579036173795495190.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Talks Tough on Syria, Ramps Up Attack Planning: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323407104579034633663263254.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories

The Wall Street Journal, A Veteran Saudi Power Player Works to Build Support to Topple Assad: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323423804579024452583045962.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories

The Wall Street Journal, Syria’s Gas Attack on Civilization: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323665504579031010578108096.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

The Wall Street Journal, Syria Side Effects: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324591204579035360893940826.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop

The Wall Street Journal, The Failed Grand Strategy in the Middle East: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324619504579028923699568400.html?KEYWORDS=the+failed+grand+strategy

Reuters, Syria Rebels Seize Strategic Town, Execute Alawite Cleric: Activists: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syria-crisis-rebels-idUSBRE97P0FG20130826

Reuters, U.N. Inspectors Reach Syria Gas Victims Despite Coming Under Fire: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE97K0EL20130826

Reuters, Russia Warns Against Military Intervention in Syria: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syria-crisis-lavrov-intervention-idUSBRE97P0G220130826

Reuters, Syria’s Assad Says U.S. Military Will Fail If It Intervenes: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syria-crisis-russia-assad-idUSBRE97P02R20130826

The New York Times, In Syria, America Loses if Either Side Wins: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/opinion/sunday/in-syria-america-loses-if-either-side-wins.html?_r=0

Reuters, U.N. Inspectors Reach Syria Gas Victims, Despite Coming Under Fire: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE97K0EL20130826

Reuters, U.S. Would Only Act on Syria with International Community: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syria-crisis-hagel-idUSBRE97P0E320130826

Reuters, As Syria War Escalates, Americans Cool to U.S. Intervention: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/25/us-syria-crisis-usa-poll-idUSBRE97O00E20130825

The Telegraph, U.S. ‘Will Not Intervene in Syria as Rebels Don’t Support Interests’, Says Top General: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10257208/US-will-not-intervene-in-Syria-as-rebels-dont-support-interests-says-top-general.html

Y Net, Israel, Syria and Rebels Wait with Guns Drawn: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4401959,00.html

Stars and Stripes, Dempsey, Allied Military Chiefs Meet in Jordan Amid Escalating Syrian Crisis: http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/dempsey-allied-military-chiefs-meet-in-jordan-amid-escalating-syrian-crisis-1.237266

The Guardian, Syria Crisis: International Views on Intervention: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/26/syria-crisis-international-views-intervention