Can Syria’s Chemical Arsenal Be Destroyed?

New York Times ^ | September 11, 2013 | Staff

[lbryce]

The administration’s plans for a missile attack to punish the Assad regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons has been frozen after Russia and Syria proposed international inspection, removal and destruction of the arsenal.

But is such a plan realistic? Could Syria’s chemical weapons be found and eliminated?

Six of the Slimes Most Obsequious Obama Apologists Explain What They Know Not A Wit Of What They Speak Of

Chemical Agents Could Be Secured Quickly
Dieter Rothbacher, Former inspector

Logistical Problems Couldn’t Be Overcome Now
Emily Chorley, IHS Jane's

Andrew S. Weiss
Russia Must Agree to an Enforcement Mechanism

Andrew S. Weiss
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Jeffrey Lewis
Even a Flawed Plan Will Be Useful

Jeffrey Lewis
Monterey Institute of International Studies

Cheryl Rofer
We’ll Need a Ceasefire First

Cheryl Rofer, blogger and chemist Salman Shaikh Key Arab States Want Results

Salman Shaikh, Brookings Doha Center Radwan Ziadeh A Delaying Tactic to Stall Assad’s Fall

Radwan Ziadeh, Syrian National Council

[lbryce]

Can Syria's Arsenal be destroyed? Is this some exercise in semantics? Of course they can be destroyed. The question is would either bedfellows, one rogue, one outlaw, want it, allow it to occur?

On what basis is there to believe that these two nations, one rogue, one outlaw, both on the polar opposite end of the political spectrum, will follow through on what has never been attempted, let alone accomplished? Are you envisioning any scenario in which Russia demands the poison gas for removal, that which has been instrumental in making Syria a regional power on the strength of its illicit arsenal in its ability to intimidate, threaten others with impunity? Do you see Syria ready to give it all up on some say so, as if Syria would ever reveal the secret locations of, as if this outlaw nation working with its outlaw patron in the removal of its outlawed arsenal of death, would ever rid itself of its most effective card in its struggle to maintain its survival?

[DeaconRed]

From the Witch:

"What freaking difference does it Make?"

[cuban leaf]

If I lived in Syria, I’d care.

But I don’t.

[norwaypinesavage]

It is impossible to destroy the entire Syrian chemical weapons arsenal. However, it will be quite easy to destroy the chemical weapons arsenal that Assad and Putin will claim he has. This can result in a near perfect victory for Putin:
Assad remains in power
Islamist rebels are weakened
Russia becomes the dominant power in the middle east
Obama struts around the world declaring how smart he is

[Travis McGee]

It’s a joke and we are the patsy. Sure, we’re going to transport thousands of tons of leaky Soviet-era chem weapons and storage cannisters to a remote Pacific island for incineration. In the middle of a civil war.

And I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you, cheap.