Rebels in Syria Risk Making Assad Look Cooperative as Inspectors Work To Destroy Chemical Weapons
Although the Assad regime has been accused by Western officials of using chemical weapons, it is the rebels in Syria who could could end up looking uncooperative and disruptive as chemical weapons inspectors continue their mission to dismantle the Syrian government's chemical weapons.
Inspectors working on destroying the Assad regime's chemical weapons face numerous challenges, including not just tight deadlines but also the frequently changing front lines in the Syrian civil war. Although the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the recent Nobel Peace Prize recipient tasked with overseeing the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, has not cited any instance of rebels hindering their work, an unnamed Western diplomat in the Arab world told The New York Times that any disruption from the rebels could make Assad look comparatively cooperative:
A Western diplomat in the Arab world said that though the Syrian government was legally responsible for dismantling its chemical weapons under an international agreement, its opponents should also cooperate in the process, because several chemical weapons sites were close to confrontation lines or within rebel-held territory.
"The international community also expects full cooperation from the opposition," the diplomat said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a delicate issue. "However divided the opposition might be, it would look very bad if the government was seen to be cooperating fully, while inspections were held up because of problems with the opposition."
Many Syrians are not happy about the OPCW winning the Nobel Peace Prize, a move which (according to NPR) some have interpreted as a gift to Assad.
After the chemical attacks in Damascus suburbs in August this year it looked as if the Assad regime could be on the receiving end of Western military strikes. Now, it looks like the use of chemical weapons in Syria could end up making the Assad regime look more responsible and cooperative than its opposition. It all depends on whether the ideologically varied rebels decide to allow the chemical weapons inspectors to do their job.
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Don’t worry. Our Great Leader knows who the good guys are and we’ll only fight on their side!
It’s also given us time to gather evidence of black ops by certain Gulf states.
God I hope those who know which way the toxic wind blows are making end runs around the political officers doing what the Islamist fundie sympathizer in the White House tells them to do.
And, yes, shrike, to often Bush bowed to the same powers and kissed their hand too. It wasn’t until after he was out though that they made a blatant move on North Africa and Syria though.
My first thought as well.
yep
Yea, a real head scratcher.
Now we’ll see how good the rebels are at public relations and international image manipulation. We already know the al Qaeda wing’s track record.
Organization for the prohibition of alt-text.
“…the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the recent Nobel Peace Prize recipient tasked with overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons…”
Is the deal that if you come up with a great sounding organizational title with lofty ambitions, you can win the Nobel Peace Prize now? I know that’s a step up from doing *nothing* – or even worse, being the babysitter of two horribly managed wars – but really = whose chemical weapons have they so far ‘destroyed’ to anyone’s complete satisfaction? Especially given the fact that the weapons that have been used in Syria were most likely smuggled in by…well, either Americans or Iraqis, most likely. So who are they really kidding? These guys get an award for being “most ambitious Whack A Mole Team on the Planet!”?
Sooooo…..Assad appears to be *doing* what was requested, or *complying* with the request. And the *news* is that the “rebels might” somehow interfere? And “if” they did, that “might appear” bad, and make Assad “appear”….better?
That’s the story?
Or is the story, “It’s difficult for people who are tasked with doing things like finding and disabling chem weapons to do so in what’s basically a war zone. And Assad – while probably an evil prick – has thus far given the appearance of having the sense to do what’s been asked of him to avoid a good droning.”
Film at 11.
Speaking of the inherent ‘bravery’ of these peace-makers who eliminate chemical weapons…
Is the idea that they are only effective when people *voluntarily give them their shit to be destroyed*? Because…well, isn’t that a little bit ex post facto? At that point, why not just OWN chemical weapons so that in the event of some international kerfuffle, you hand them in like some fucking ‘get out of NATO bombing’ card, and continue with your rebel-extermination program.
I mean, impressed I am not.
Also, fried chicken.
Many Syrians are not happy about the OPCW winning the Nobel Peace Prize, a move which (according to NPR) some have interpreted as a gift to Assad.
Does anybody pay attention to the Nobel prize process anymore?
People who rent tuxedoes in Oslo Sweden?
Oslo Sweden is my favorite part of Sweden. I’m from there, actually.
You know who else paid attention to contests that awarded prizes…
The guy who kidnapped me and gave me Oslo Syndrome?
Publisher’s Clearing House?
Even more likely are the people who rent tuxedoes in Oslo Norway?
So what happens at the end of this puppet show when the Nobel Prize winning weapons inspectors announce something similar to “Thus there is a discrepancy of 6,500 bombs. The amount of chemical agent in these bombs would be in the order of about 1,000 tonnes. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we must assume these quantities are now unaccounted for.”
Things didn’t end well last time this happened. It will be fun to watch President Not My Fault respond to that one.