Syria 'has chemical weapons that could be used within two hours'

The question isn't whether or not Syria will use their chemical weapons against Syrian rebel forces, it's more like WHEN will they use them.  Obviously, the threat of these is supposed to stop the enemies of Assad from even trying the overthrow but it doesn't seem to be working and I'm guessing that when the photos come back of the first dead from a sarin gas attack, most of the world will probably sign up to take Assad out.

The story comes from The Telegraph.

Syria 'has chemical weapons that could be used within two hours'


Syria has armed dozens of bombs with sarin gas and other chemical weapons that could be used to target opposition less than two hours after President Bashar al-Assad issues orders, US officials have claimed.

Only concerted diplomatic pressure from the US, Russia, China and other countries has stopped the regime from loading the bombs on to its aircraft.

Satellite imagery gathered by Israel and other states in late November showed regime soldiers preparing the 500lb bombs in late November.

The intelligence triggered a public warning from Leon Panetta, the US Defence Secretary, that the regime would cross a "red line" triggering military intervention if it used the bombs.

Diplomats told The New York Times that American, European, Arab diplomats hurriedly coordinated warnings to Damascus to stop preparing the devices.

But America and its allies remain concerned that the bombs could be dropped by the regime at short notice.



The effectiveness of the weapons would depend on weather conditions and the terrain.

The US military has deployed 150 specialist officers to Jordan to monitor and respond to a chemical weapons attack by the regime.

Meanwhile it was reported that almost 100,000 people fled the Syrian civil war in the last month.

There are now almost 600,000 refugees living outside Syria.

Tens of thousands more have fled the country but not felt the need to register as refugees.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, has accused President Assad of sabotaging a UN-sponsored peace initiative.

"What the Syrian people desperately need at this time are real solutions to the crisis that is tearing their nation apart," Mr Ban said through his spokesman.

The UN leader criticised Assad for having "rejected the most important element" of a June 30 road map agreed by the main powers in Geneva that called for a political transition with the establishment of a transitional governing body.

"The United Nations remains committed to do its utmost, in co-operation with other partners, to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people inside and outside Syria," the spokesman said.

Syria Still At It

March 1, 2011: Commercial satellite photos have revealed a new Syrian nuclear enrichment facility near Damascus. There are two other facilities apparently related to nuclear research, but the Damascus site is apparently being equipped for enriching uranium for a reactor, or nuclear weapons. The grounds around this site are being paved, so that it's more difficult to detect radioactive material. UN inspectors have not been allowed to inspect the site near Damascus. The Israeli government has not reacted, yet.

Syria originally had a nuclear reactor under construction at al Kibar, which was bombed by Israel in September, 2007. This site had structures that indicated a nuclear research facility was under construction. After the bombing, the Syrians promptly removed the structures, both the ones that were bombed and those left intact. Syria has since rebuilt the area with what appears to be a missile control and launching center.

UN inspectors found, before Syria rebuilt the area, that there were traces of uranium and graphite, indicating that there was indeed a nuclear research activity, at the very least, going on. The Syrians apparently did not realize that it was difficult, nearly impossible, to clear away the microscopic evidence that nuclear research was going on there.

North Korean technicians were involved with whatever was going on there, although Syria denied any nuclear work was taking place. Denying that North Koreans were around was more difficult, as North Koreans have been seen entering and leaving this area for months. North Korea is believed to be still selling weapons, and possibly nuclear technology, to Syrian mentor Iran. North Koreans are still in Syria, apparently in support of weapons (possibly nuclear) technology sold to Syria.