The administration has officially announced that it is possible after all that the Syrian regime could have used chemical weapons against rebels “on a small scale,” but the “chain of custody” isn’t clear, so — get ready — the US is calling for…
A comprehensive UN investigation.
Assad, no doubt, is trembling in his boots.
As Barry Rubin explains, there is little chance of a good outcome in Syria. Assad may hold on for a time, but he will almost certainly be replaced by a regime or — if Syria splits into ethnic enclaves — regimes mostly dominated by radical Sunni Islamists. They will be more ideological and less pragmatic than Assad, and therefore more dangerous.
There is also Hizballah, Iran’s Lebanon-based terrorist proxy, now fighting alongside Assad. If any of these groups get control of Assad’s huge arsenal of chemical weapons — one of the biggest in the world — they are much more likely to use them against Israel or in terrorist operations against Western nations.
With all due respect, we don’t need a UN investigation, which will simply delay action. What has to happen now is that the US, Israel, NATO or some responsible adult must take Assad’s toys away before elements even more barbarous than he is succeed in doing so.
Technorati Tags: Syria, chemical weapons, Hizballah, terrorism
This seems to be an Administration trick to delay decision and action. Obama should not have made a threat if he did not intend to act upon it. But the reluctance to enter the fray on the part of Washington is in some sense understandable as there is no ‘good side’ to support.
I believe the real test will come if those chemical weapons appear as if they are about to be used against Israel. Then both for Israel and the United States there should be an overpowering response that puts to rest the threat.
As Rubin said, we missed the opportunity, such as it was, to help ‘moderate’ forces. Now the problem is how to get control of the weapons before they are used on a more massive scale or against Israel or the West.