US concerned as Syria moves chemical stockpile

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**Jihadin**

Syria has begun moving parts of its vast arsenal of chemical weapons out of storage facilities, U.S. officials said, in a development that has alarmed many in Washington, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The country's undeclared stockpiles of sarin nerve agent, mustard gas and cyanide have long worried U.S. officials and their allies in the region, who have watched anxiously amid the conflict in Syria for any change in the status or location of the weapons.

American officials are divided on the meaning of the latest moves by members of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Some U.S. officials fear Damascus intends to use the weapons against the rebels or civilians, potentially as part of a targeted ethnic cleansing campaign. But other officials said Mr. Assad may be trying to safeguard the material from his opponents or to complicate Western powers' efforts to track the weapons.

Some said that Mr. Assad may not intend to use the weapons, but instead may be moving them as a feint, hoping the threat of a chemical attack could drive Sunnis thought to be sympathetic to the rebels from their homes.

Whatever the motivation, the evidence that the chemical weapons are coming into play could escalate the conflict in Syria, some fear. "This could set the precedent of WMD [weapons of mass destruction] being used under our watch," one U.S. official said. "This is incredibly dangerous to our national security."

The Obama administration has begun to hold classified briefings about the new intelligence. U.S. officials are particularly worried about Syria's stocks of sarin gas, the deadly and versatile nerve agent. The officials wouldn't say where weapons have been moved.

Hope for the best prepare fr the worst

**Frazzled**

Horrible, just horrible. Not our concern however.

**Huffy**

Frazzled wrote:Horrible, just horrible. Not our concern however.

What he said...let the turks and saudis deal with it

**dogma**

U.S. officials are particularly worried about Syria's stocks of sarin gas, the deadly and versatile nerve agent. The officials wouldn't say where weapons have been moved.

I don't know why, but this part reminded me of this:

**Mr Nobody**

America could just start moving nukes around, just one-up Syria.

**Jihadin**

We do move nuke arounds.....

**juraigamer**

Hang on while I get in my truck modeled to perfectly move nukes around and then attach loudspeakers like I'm an ice cream truck and drive around.

Or, they could be moving the chemicals and other nonsense for disposal.

**Jihadin**

Not on civilian airlines lol. Nukes do get moved around the US.

**Squigsquasher**

Start making bioweapons. By which I mean Tyranids.

**Lord Rogukiel**

Squigsquasher wrote:Start making bioweapons. By which I mean Tyranids.

Approved.

When do we begin?

**kronk**

Jihadin wrote:We do move nuke arounds.....

Sometimes we don't even know when we're moving around, just so people thing we're flying rodent gak crazy!

2007 article that still cracks me up!

**Squigsquasher**

Lord Rogukiel wrote:
Squigsquasher wrote:Start making bioweapons. By which I mean Tyranids.

Approved.

When do we begin?

Now.

**SilverMK2**

A country moving weapons around without telling the entire world about the exact route they are taking and where they are going to and from?

Edit: Fixed image

**GalacticDefender**

We probably already have so many black ops going on over there...

But seriously, I hope Syria does get some help. Not necessarily from us, unless it is non-military (food and medical supplies are fine) but I hope Turkey gets in there.

**Phototoxin**

The country's undeclared stockpiles of sarin nerve agent, mustard gas and cyanide have long worried U.S. officials and their allies in the region, who have watched anxiously amid the conflict in Syria for any change in the status or location of the weapons.

As opposed to the US and Russia's stockpiles of VX gas, nuclear weapons and the like which have the potential to wipe out all life on the planet several times over long worrying every civilized nation?

Pot. Kettle. Black.

**Jihadin**

Ours is non persistant agent same as the russians. Both sides still want use of the area. We no longer have mustard gas (rounds are still being found at Macauther Lake on Ft Bragg.) Not sure about Russia. Cyanide gas is used in execution in the US. Russia goes cheaper with a bullet but more likely work them to death. Cyanide gas is not an effective area deniability weapon since its lighter than air.

Mustard Gas
Since World War I, mustard gas has been used in several wars or other conflicts, usually against people who cannot retaliate:[17]
United Kingdom against the Red Army in 1919[18]
Spain and France against Rif insurgents in Morocco during 1921 – 27[17][19]
Italy in Libya during 1930[17]
The Soviet Union in Xinjiang, Republic of China, during the Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang against the 36th Division (National Revolutionary Army) in 1934, and also in the Xinjiang War (1937) during 1936 – 37[18][19]
Italy against Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) from 1935 to 1940[17]
Nazi Germany against Poland and the Soviet Union in a few incidents during World War II[17]
Poland against Germany in 1939 during an isolated incident, using a British product[17]
The Japanese Empire against China during 1937 – 45[18]
Egypt against North Yemen during 1963 – 67[17]
Iraq against Iran and the Kurds during 1983 – 88[18][20]
Possibly Sudan against insurgents in the civil war, in 1995 and 1997[17]

Last mustard shell was incenirated in Jan of 2012 in the US
UK destroyed all theirs in '58