America’s new Secretary of State John Kerry says his country is about to get more deeply involved in the Syrian Civil War.  The U.S. is considering ways to send non-lethal help to carefully vetted rebel groups.

Kerry said, "We are examining and developing ways to accelerate the political transition that the Syrian people want and deserve.  We need to help them to deliver basic services and to protect the legitimate institutions of the state."

But the Obama administration is worried about any assistance falling into the hands of more radical elements, which would then be used by terrorists.

Meanwhile, outside groups are beginning to operate within Syria to document the atrocities of the Bashar al-Assad regime, including torture, massacres and indiscriminate killings. 

The United Nations Human Rights Council says 70,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured in the war to dump Assad.  Other groups say that the vast majority of victims were civilians.