Washington - Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking to a group of opinion writers Monday, indicated even the low-level use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria is not tolerable and would cross the line set by President Obama, requiring a military response. "There is evidence of moderate to high confidence (in) the use of sarin gas. It is a red line for the president," Kerry told members of the Association of Opinion Journalists, at a meeting at the State Department. Kerry said he would talk with foreign ministers of other countries to present the evidence so far. "We have to have evidence that we can take to the world. I hope we can advance the ball as far as their participation and efforts," he said of those discussions. But Kerry ruled out use of infantry to help anti-Assad rebels. "No one is talking about boots on the ground - not in the cards."

-Paul Choiniere, Day Editorial Page Editor