Statement by Governor Perry on Secretary Kerry's Syria Comments

AUSTIN – Governor Rick Perry today released the following statement regarding Secretary of State John Kerry's admission that he is "absolutely certain" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime is using chlorine gas to attack its own people.

"President Obama said Assad must go, but did nothing to make it happen. He said use of chemical weapons is a line Assad must not cross. Assad did, with no consequence. Now President Obama is left to argue chlorine gas attacks on the Syrian people are not chemical warfare. There is a great price to be paid when America does not lead, and innocent Syrian civilians are paying that price today."

Today Secretary Of State John Kerry Said He Is "Absolutely Certain" Syrian President Assad Is Using Chlorine To Attack His Own People. "Secretary of State John Kerry is 'absolutely certain' that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime has launched chlorine attacks on its own people is currently compiling evidence to support it, he told reporters Tuesday." (Ben Kamisar, "Kerry 'Absolutely Certain' Assad Using Chlorine Attacks On His People," The Hill, 6/16/14)

FLASHBACK: In May President Obama Said Chlorine Was Not "Historically" Considered A Chemical Weapon After Reports Of Chlorine Gas Attacks In Syria. "Widespread reports of chlorine gas attacks in Syria have not been prevented — or acted upon — because chlorine is not 'historically' considered a chemical weapon, US President Barack Obama stated Thursday." (Tova Dvorin, "Obama: Chlorine Gas Not 'Historically' A Chemical Weapon," Arutz Sheva, 5/15/15)