Well, that's it for the red line. The White House has confirmed that the Syrian government has utilized chemical weapons in the fight against rebel armies. On Thursday the Obama administration informed lawmakers that U.S. and European officials have determined that these weapons were deployed, and the intelligence community estimates that 100 to 150 people have died as a result. Deputy National-Security Adviser Ben Rhodes says Obama "has said the use of chemical weapons would change his calculus, and it has." He added that the rebels will receive "direct support," but could not specify what type.
