Syrian Civil War Developments

[zraver]

Wouldn't blowing up the munitions lead to their release? It seems to me one would need boots on the ground.

That depends, most of the munitions will be binary agents. Toxic but not WMD deadly. You can burn them. Others are not binary agents but there are other things you can do to minimize impact. says the site has a non-persistent nerve agent. Hit the place when prevailing winds are away from population centers and as early in the day as possible to maximize exposure to the suns UV rays.

Depending on where the weapons are you might be able to seal them in by hitting the entrances etc. There are options.

Minskaya,

Lol. Farming out your operations? You certainly didn't have any problem farming out Al Kibar.

Did we ever admit to that?

Big difference between a single site under construction and a well developed CW infrastructure. If Syria really moves towards CW release the best way to hit fast and hard enough to stop it is a B1/B-2, SLCM shock and awe attack. Israel doesn't have the combat power to do it nearly as fast as the US can do it.

[zraver]

Too late... NBC is reporting the chemicals have been mixed and loaded into bombs. To late to hit (at least part of) the stockpile. If the report is right, expect US/NATO strikes shortly. Wished I lived in Missouri, I'd be airfield watching right now. It would be great to be in on a secret like that.

[citanon]

Too late... NBC is reporting the chemicals have been mixed and loaded into bombs. To late to hit (at least part of) the stockpile. If the report is right, expect US/NATO strikes shortly. Wished I lived in Missouri, I'd be airfield watching right now. It would be great to be in on a secret like that.

So, maybe the silver lining here is that it's still possible to go after the delivery systems at this stage. Destroy the Syrian air force, shut down transport from CW sites, go after artillery pieces. Is this really feasible?

[Minskaya]

If we can do this within the confines of NATO that is a win-win for all.

The problem AR, is that there is no NATO coalition-of-the-willing here as there was during the Libyan rebellion.

I'm pretty sure that if you had an implacable enemy in Philadelphia moving and preparing chemical weapons, you wouldn't feel so comfortable waiting on a snoozing London and Paris to save the day.

[NUS]

The problem AR, is that there is noI'm pretty sure that if you had an implacable enemy in Philadelphia moving and preparing chemical weapons, you wouldn't feel so comfortable waiting on a snoozing London and Paris to save the day.

Are you trying to say that Assad is about to commit suicide and attack Israel with CW? If not, why Israel wants to destroy Syrian CW stockpile so suddenly? You had like decades to do it, but why now?

[Dante]

Too late... NBC is reporting the chemicals have been mixed and loaded into bombs. To late to hit (at least part of) the stockpile. If the report is right, expect US/NATO strikes shortly. Wished I lived in Missouri, I'd be airfield watching right now. It would be great to be in on a secret like that.

Would Assad consider using them against the opposition viable ? I was under the impression that the insurgents are mingled with the general population.. besides, the regime appears to be wining.

[citanon]

Would Assad consider using them against the opposition viable ? I was under the impression that the insurgents are mingled with the general population.. besides, the regime appears to be wining.

The regime is winning in ever more areas ever closer to the capital.....

[zraver]

So, maybe the silver lining here is that it's still possible to go after the delivery systems at this stage. Destroy the Syrian air force, shut down transport from CW sites, go after artillery pieces. Is this really feasible?

We can hit the Syrian AF easy enough. But will Russia play ball?

[Parihaka]

Are you trying to say that Assad is about to commit suicide and attack Israel with CW? If not, why Israel wants to destroy Syrian CW stockpile so suddenly? You had like decades to do it, but why now?

Lets see, because ever larger areas are now under the control of the rebels, the rebels are showing ever increasing degrees of sophistication, and the predominant rebel group, Jabhat al-Nusra, has just been put on the US's terrorist list. Now we know that the Syrian Air Force has weaponised bombs but not where those bombs are now.

[NUS]

Lets see, because ever larger areas are now under the control of the rebels, the rebels are showing ever increasing degrees of sophistication, and the predominant rebel group, Jabhat al-Nusra, has just been put on the US's terrorist list. Now we know that the Syrian Air Force has weaponised bombs but not where those bombs are now.

So, they are afraid of rebels, not Assad?

Do i get it right, that two closest USA allies in a region (Turkey and Israel) are building defenses against rebels sponsored by NATO?

[Dante]

Lets see, because ever larger areas are now under the control of the rebels, the rebels are showing ever increasing degrees of sophistication, and the predominant rebel group, Jabhat al-Nusra, has just been put on the US's terrorist list. Now we know that the Syrian Air Force has weaponised bombs but not where those bombs are now.

So why not bomb the rebels and support Assad?
This whole situation would be comical if it wasn't so dangerous.

[zraver]

So why not bomb the rebels and support Assad?
This whole situation would be comical if it wasn't so dangerous.

Lets not forget that the reason the jihadist are on the rise is because the secular Free Syrian Army has been alrgely denied the arms and funding it needed to win becuase of fears that jihadist would benefit from said arms and money. So instead of hampering the jihadist the denial of aid to secular moderates has in fact empowered the moderates.

However, with the Syrian CW armed, the world really needs to consider Russia. Putn is the new power broker in this. The US and NATO risk quite a bit if they they and force his hand. Russia is still smarting over Kosovo, US efforts in the Stans and the orange revolution in the Ukraine. The Georgian War hardly mollified them and they may stake out their national prestige on Syria. Not only may Russia block US/NATO action, but may be the reason Assad feels he can use chemical weapons on his own people.

[Mihais]

Lets not forget that the reason the jihadist are on the rise is because the secular Free Syrian Army has been alrgely denied the arms and funding it needed to win becuase of fears that jihadist would benefit from said arms and money. So instead of hampering the jihadist the denial of aid to secular moderates has in fact empowered the moderates.

Don't be ridiculous.

However, with the Syrian CW armed, the world really needs to consider Russia. Putn is the new power broker in this. The US and NATO risk quite a bit if they they and force his hand. Russia is still smarting over Kosovo, US efforts in the Stans and the orange revolution in the Ukraine. The Georgian War hardly mollified them and they may stake out their national prestige on Syria. Not only may Russia block US/NATO action, but may be the reason Assad feels he can use chemical weapons on his own people.

Or he only wants others reconsider minding in their civil war.Nobody,not even the dumbest Arab corporal,considers that dropping CW on civilians will be let to pass.Up on the chain of command people remember what happened to Saddam and Chemical Ali.Russian and or Chinese diplomats will make it clear to Assad that he's not worth a fight with NATO(aka WW3) and that their actual ability to project power(even under cover) in Syria is so inferior to NATO's that's not worth considering.Heck,even the cooling of trade relations with the West is more worrisome for them than whatever value has Assad.Also Putin is unlikely to risk losing face in such a confrontation,so he'll calm down Assad or back off from Syria.

That being said,keep up the good job,Bashar.Every scum you kill is one scum less for us to kill and one perpetrator of genocide against the Syrian Christians in minus.

[Parihaka]

So why not bomb the rebels and support Assad?
This whole situation would be comical if it wasn't so dangerous.

So, they are afraid of rebels, not Assad?

Do i get it right, that two closest USA allies in a region (Turkey and Israel) are building defenses against rebels sponsored by NATO?

Welcome to western politics

[blackboard79]

Lets take a step back for a minute. Serious question, does any really believe Syria would use chemical weapons or is the hype machine in effect?