As the nation weighs the pros and cons of a military intervention in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry is urging an affirmative decision, insisting, NBC News reports, that the United States has a moral obligation to punish the Middle Eastern nation for its use of chemical weapons against civilians.

"My friends, it matters here if nothing is done." (Cliff1066, Creative Commons)

Said Kerry:

"My friends, it matters here if nothing is done. It matters if the world speaks out in condemnation and then nothing happens."

Kerry also touched on the issue of war fatigue, saying that the long and bitter U.S. history in Afghanistan and Iraq does not absolve us of the responsibility to intervene.

MORE: Obama: 'I Have Not Made A Final Decision'

Kerry has said that such intervention would not require ground troops or long-term engagement, a statement the president has echoed.

Read the full story at NBC News.

Read more Neon Tommy coverage of Syria here.

Reach Executive Producer Francesca Bessey here. Follow her here.