WATCH: John Kerry calls Syrian chemical weapons usage a 'moral obscenity'

A harsh rebuke from the White House, but no formal decision on military intervention

John Kerry
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Secretary of State John Kerry strongly condemned Syria's suspected use last week of chemical weapons, saying the attack should "shock the conscience of the world." The remarks were widely seen as the strongest indication yet that the Obama administration is taking steps toward intervening militarily in the conflict.

"It defies any code of morality," Kerry said. "Let me be clear. The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons, is a moral obscenity. By any standard, it is inexcusable.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.