Syria Strike: Obama, Kerry Say U.S. Still Undecided On "Limited, Tailored" Action

As the week when the world expected a U.S.-led strike on Syria ends, President Barack Obama said in a statement on Friday that he is considering a "limited, narrow act" of military response in Syria, and that the Syrian government's chemical weapons attack is a "challenge to the world.” The U.S. is not considering putting boots on the ground, the president said.

Obama’s statement came shortly after Secretary of State John Kerry gave a forceful speech on Syria but stopped short of announcing any commitment to a strike.

On Monday, Kerry had said that Obama was considering “a response to the use of chemical weapons.” Four days later, Kerry echoed the same words and reiterated that if any action were to take place, it would be a “limited, tailored response.”

“Our intelligence community has carefully reviewed and re-reviewed information regarding this attack. And I will tell you it has done so more than mindful of the Iraq experience,” Kerry said. “We will not repeat that moment. Accordingly, we have taken unprecedented steps to declassify and make facts available to people, who can judge for themselves,” he said.