United States Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed today what was revealed last week by international media, namely, that the government of Bashar al-Assad‘s Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own people. Calling it a ‘moral obscenity,’ Secretary Kerry called on the world community to reject Syria’s actions and to respond collectively and forcefully to end the use of chemical weapons now and in the future. Accounts by Doctors Without Borders indicates that it is almost undeniable that chemical weapons were used in the cases its staff have assisted with firsthand. Additionally, it is known that the Syrian government both possesses and has the capability to deploy these weapons. An attempt by United Nations investigators today was shot at by a sniper convoy, hindering attempts to investigate the use of chemical weapons.