On Monday, Associated Press reporter Matt Lee challenged the State Department’s idea of "success" in regard to the removal of chemical weapons in Syria.
The Syria government reached an agreement with the United States and Russia in 2013 to turn over all chemical materials from its chemical weapons program.
State Department spokesperson John Kirby said the administration still considers that agreement a success, despite reports that the Syrian government continues to use chemical weapons on its own citizens.
Lee challenged the State Department’s claim.
"I don’t see how that is a success at all," Lee said. "I see that you got rid of some of it but he is still using it. Is it still a success?"
"Yes," Kirby said.
Kirby said that all declared chemicals were removed and that it is difficult to remove those that weren’t declared.
"Success to get a 100 percent of the declared material out and get it neutralized, yes that was successful," Kirby said. "Matt, come on its never been done before on that kind of a scale."
"If he didn’t declare 100 percent, then I don’t see how it’s a 100 percent success," Lee said.