Secretary of State John Kerry warned Wednesday that the world has a responsibility to bring an end to the Syrian civil war before the situation deteriorates even further.
“My friends, the challenge we face in Syria today is nothing less than to chart a course out of hell,” Kerry said.
Kerry emphasized that in order to defeat the Islamic State, the Assad regime must also be replaced, and the Syrian war brought to an end.
“Ultimately, to defeat Daesh, we have to end the war in Syria,” Kerry said, using an alternative name for ISIS favored in some quarters.
Playing on daylight savings time, Kerry said that ISIS “wants to turn the clock of civilization back a millennium or more.”
Kerry then cited the recent prison mission in Iraq that freed 69 ISIS prisoners, but killed an American serviceman, and announced his return to Vienna tonight for meetings, where Iranian representatives will be present.
