The Obama administration distributed videos — showing a chemical weapons attack in Syria — to help convince Americans and Congress that a military intervention against the Syrian government is necessary, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday.
Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Mr. Kerry said the videos make clear that the attack is not something Americans can ignore.
U.S. has accused Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s government of using chemical weapons in an August 21 assault, and has cited intelligence reports as saying it killed at least 1,429 people, including more than 400 children. The videos show the victims exhibiting what appear to be symptoms of nerve gas poisoning.
“Those videos make it clear to people that these are real human beings, real children, parents being affected in ways that are unacceptable to anybody, anywhere by any standards,” Mr. Kerry said. “And the United States of America that has always stood with others to say we will not allow this this is not our values, it’s not who we are.”
Mr. Kerry is in Europe trying to raise European support for a strike in Syria and also discussing West Asia peace negotiations. “The vast majority of members of Congress House and Senate remain undecided. And that’s why the videos are being shown and the briefings are taking place.”
He met in Paris representatives of the Arab League, also part of the effort to garner support for a Syrian strike. He said that Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of the Syrian opposition fighting Mr. Assad, supports a military action.
“They have supported a strike and they support taking action,” Mr. Kerry said.”
