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"Barbarism" with Chlorine Gas Goes Unchecked in Syria
(Washington Post) Editorial - On March 6, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning the use of chlorine as a weapon in Syria and threatening sanctions or other enforcement action if it was used again. Since March 16, there have been more than 30 chlorine attacks in Idlib province, according to the Syrian American Medical Society. More than 540 civilians have suffered from exposure, and at least 10 have died. In every case, Syrian government helicopters - no other force has such aircraft - have dropped containers filled with chlorine and sometimes other chemicals on civilian areas. There have been no such attacks by the regime against the Islamic State, or even against Syrian rebel forces - just on civilians behind the front lines. "We are certain that the preponderance of those attacks have been carried out by the regime," said Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Tuesday. The State Department confirmed the attacks were chemical, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention that Syria ratified in 2013. They blatantly cross the "red line" President Obama once drew against the use of chemical weapons by Syria. But the Security Council, paralyzed by Russian obstructionism, has taken no action. It is well within the power of the United States to put a stop to the horrific attacks. It could impose a no-fly zone in northern Syria or simply shoot down the Syrian helicopters carrying out the attacks.