USA TODAY: President Obama has declared the threat of chemical or biological warfare in Syria a “red line” for the United States, outlining for the first time the point at which his administration could feel forced to intervene militarily in the Arab country’s increasingly messy conflict…
Israel is among the most concerned. It is worried that as Assad’s grip on power loosens, he could transfer weapons to groups such as Hezbollah or Hamas that Syria has supported in the past. Israel and the U.S. also worry that if rebels seize chemical or biological agents, they could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda-linked fighters or other extremist elements now fighting for the opposition…
The U.S. so far has limited its aid to the Syrian rebels to humanitarian relief and communications equipment while trying to help the opposition come up with a blueprint for a post-Assad future, which the U.S. says is only a question of time. The approach aims to avoid a repeat of the post-Saddam chaos in Iraq by preventing sectarian strife and ensuring that the state continues to supply water, electricity and other basic services. Officials have called this regime change with a “soft landing.”… (more)
EDITOR: An illuminating article meriting a thorough read.
