# Russia/US UNSC Deal Reached - what it it means for masterful US President and Sec of State legacy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 14, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852 "2013-09-14T17:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 41
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/801 "2014-02-15T14:59:50Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Call when they start, you know, destroying stuff. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by elucidator (Post 16666164) To review: a scant dollop of hope. Not much, easily, but when you are writing out the tag for the patient’s toe, even the slightest pulse is a good thing. > > American boots, zero. American body bags, zilch. Didn’t even fire any missiles, just threatened to send John Kerry to talk to them some more. Cruel, perhaps, but if stern duty demands… > > Tighty righties rolling about on the floor, shrieking in rage and tearing their hair…thousands and thousands. Not bad for a weak and vacillating bloodthirsty war monger. \<“Cite” > > > [@](#): > > > > (-Ají de Gallina 09-14-2013 12:47 PM) Dude, I know good ol’ Bashar is a bloodthirsty genocidal tyrant, but threatening with “The Kerry” may be against some Geneva stuff or something. > > > > Jokes aside. Syria has no easy solutions, no [sp]obvious solutions. > > There are only less horrible ones and it’s really unimportant if US lefties find themselves defending military action without Congress approval or US righties decide that wars without a clear “win” scenario are not a good idea. > > > > Let’s not forget that “taking Assad out” means genocide for the Alawites. \<“Cite” Jokes aside. Taking your publically expressed understanding Ají de Gallina, that “Syria has no easy solutions, no obvious solutions” is it not an achievement to have stopped Assad from killing and harming more and more innocent civilians with chemical weapons since the days that Obama threatened to use of military strikes against the Assad regime for crossing that red line? And then after that threat was engaged Putin and Assad finally agreed diplomatically to get rid of the arsenal and act according to international law/norms the CW issue. Is it not a great masterful achievement to reduce a threat to the region by using the threat of military force and then because "_Syria has no easy solutions, no obvious solutions"_ regarding the civil war involving conventional weapons only, to achieve a diplomatic solution, that is currently underway, to the CW issue without firing a shot from our military? Or is it your preference to scoff in the face of the reality that this CW arsenal is well into the process of being eliminated from the civil war by the middle of this year. If it takes a month or two extension … because of security and safety issues… then it is no less an achievement to be done with the absolute concern about security and safety in mind. And Mace’s concerns about UN WMD inspectors has certainly passed have they not? > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Ají de Gallina (Post 16666195)(my bolding) Let’s not forget that “taking Assad out” means genocide for the Alawites. \<“Cite” > > > [@](#): > > > > (-John Mace 09-14-2013 04:39 PM) And the Christians. Anyone here want to volunteer to be a WMD inspector for the UN? Where do you find people who would take that job!? \<“Cite” It appears the UN/ OPCW has plenty of inspectors that have the courage to do a masterful job at ridding the Syrian Civil war of 1300 Tons of Chemical Weapons… How many pounds of Sarin were needed to kill one hundred civilians? How many civilians could be killed with 500 tons of Sarin and the ability to keep producing it had Obama not threatened the use of force against Assad for using that deadly weapon last year? ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/802 "2014-02-16T16:04:43Z")
An excellent observation on the Issue of removing CW from the civil war in Syria. All who wish to be informed on this subject should pay attention to this: Syria | The Trench [Syria Archives - JPZanders](http://www.the-trench.org/tag/syria/) Feb 8, 2014 … It has various options to compel Syria to meet its disarmament … For example, having missed the ultimate destruction deadline of April 2012, Russia and the … mission to safely eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile in 2014. … In a wider sense, it will be an important contribution to the much needed … Here’s an excerpt… > [@](#): > > The hybrid disarmament framework creates interesting pathways for enforcing compliance. On the one hand, the UN Security Council monitors progress through the monthly reports submitted by Ki-moon and briefings in New York by the Special Coordinator for the OPCW–UN Joint Mission, Sigrid Kaag. It has various options to compel Syria to meet its disarmament obligations at its disposal, including sanctions or the authorisation of military force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. However, as illustrated by Russia’s prompt reaction to Kerry’s warning last week, consensus among the veto-wielding permanent members is unlikely under the present circumstances. > > On the other hand, the CWC has its own compliance enforcement mechanisms (Article IX). These include bilateral consultations between states parties and options to involve the OPCW decision-making organs, the Executive Council and the Conference of the States Parties. Among the tools available are clarification requests and challenge inspections (neither of which has been invoked thus far). Article VIII determines the powers and functions of both organs, including their respective responsibilities in reestablishing compliance. In cases of particular gravity and urgency, the Executive Council shall bring the matter directly to the attention of both the UN General Assembly and Security Council. (However, note the different pathway in §3(b) of the Executive Council decision of 27 September, as mentioned earlier.) _ **The big difference is that before referral to the UN, consensus would have already been achieved in the Executive Council, making a veto in the UN Security Council most unlikely.** _ I bolded and highlighted that last sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/803 "2014-02-16T22:17:03Z")
And what would be the incentive for Russia to agree on a UN agreement? ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/804 "2014-02-16T23:13:06Z")
First of all. Dude, try a test thread on ATMB, you coding sucks to read. > [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > Jokes aside. Taking your publically expressed understanding Ají de Gallina, that “Syria has no easy solutions, no obvious solutions” is it not an achievement to have stopped Assad from killing and harming more and more innocent civilians with chemical weapons since the days that Obama threatened to use of military strikes against the Assad regime for crossing that red line? And then after that threat was engaged Putin and Assad finally agreed diplomatically to get rid of the arsenal and act according to international law/norms the CW issue. On a grand scheme of things: no. I don’t think Assad intended to use CW as even a minor part of his genocidal urges. Fewer CWs are always good, but I think Obama gave assad the green light to kill as much as he wanted. Dead is dead, by bullet or CW. I think in the long run this will cause (has caused) more deaths. If the only objective was to reduce the number of dead by CW and not the number of total dead: mission accomplished. Syria was never going to be Verdun 2.0. Until an important volume of Assad’s actu CWs are actually destroyed, I don’t think your last sentence is true. > [@](#): > > Is it not a great masterful achievement to reduce a threat to the region by using the threat of military force and then because "_Syria has no easy solutions, no obvious solutions"_ regarding the civil war involving conventional weapons only, to achieve a diplomatic solution, that is currently underway, to the CW issue without firing a shot from our military? No, genocide is still happening and CWs were excahnged for a free hand. Obama engaged a tyrant and the tyrant is now stronger, albeit a CW-less one > [@](#): > > Or is it your preference to scoff in the face of the reality that this CW arsenal is well into the process of being eliminated from the civil war by the middle of this year. My preference is fewer dead. > [@](#): > > If it takes a month or two extension … because of security and safety issues… then it is no less an achievement to be done with the absolute concern about security and safety in mind. How many extensions are acceptable? How many dead are acceptable. > [@](#): > > And Mace’s concerns about UN WMD inspectors has certainly passed have they not? Call me when they actually make a dent on Assad’s acutal arsenal and methods of production. [/QUOTE] It appears the UN/ OPCW has plenty of inspectors that have the courage to do a masterful job at ridding the Syrian Civil war of 1300 Tons of Chemical Weapons. [/QUOTE] Call me when they actually make a dent on Assad’s acutal arsenal and methods of production. > [@](#): > > How many pounds of Sarin were needed to kill one hundred civilians? I have no idea. > [@](#): > > How many civilians could be killed with 500 tons of Sarin and the ability to keep producing it had Obama not threatened the use of force against Assad for using that deadly weapon last year? Possible deads are zero dead. Actual dead are now dead. He’s killing enough people as it is. Your worried on the method by which they are killed. I’m worried by the fact the are killed, even if by spitballs. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/805 "2014-02-16T23:20:26Z")
if your preference is fewer dead, how does the US government put an end to the killing. No ducking the issue. My preference is no dead, but I recognize the reality that there are no good options available to actually stop the killing. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/806 "2014-02-17T01:03:56Z")
> [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > if your preference is fewer dead, how does the US government put an end to the killing. > > No ducking the issue. > > My preference is no dead, but I recognize the reality that there are no good options available to actually stop the killing. I have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to killing without further deaths, instabaility, and playing nanny for the next 5000000 years. The CW issue is wrong in two things: 1. It doesn’t decrease the number of dead people, and, more importantly 2. It’s given Assad the assurance that no one will interfere. The threat has been removed. If I were Assad I would’ve signed and send Toblerones to Obama. I now have his guarantee that, unless I use CWs (of which I will still keep some) I can do whatever the fuck I want. Even if Assad does give up 100% of his CW and CW-making capacity, it’s a hell of a deal. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/807 "2014-02-17T12:13:17Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to killing without further deaths, instabaility, and playing nanny for the next 5000000 years. \>“Cite” Since you ‘have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to the killing’ perhaps you can accept why the CW threat had to removed and is a great achievement in progress. (-TonySinclair 02-05-2014 04:13 PM) Assad retaining control of Syria is not a security threat to the US. CW’s in an unstable region with an AQ presence is most definitely a security threat to the US. Half a loaf is better than none, and from a US security POV, this is better than half, with zero risk to US troops. I realize that if you guys were in charge, you’d hold out for complete peace and harmony throughout the entire Middle East, but Obama lives in the real world. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/808 "2014-02-17T18:25:42Z")
> [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > Obama lives in the real world. How did you hear about him from where you are? > [@](#): > > Since you ‘have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to the killing’ perhaps you can accept why the CW threat had to removed and is a great achievement in progress. Are you saying that it is a great achievement because it doesn’t reduce the number of deaths, or in spite of the fact that it doesn’t reduce the number of deaths? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/809 "2014-02-17T19:23:32Z")
> [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > Since you ‘have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to the killing’ perhaps you can accept why the CW threat had to removed and is a great achievement in progress. Oh we know how it could be done. It’s just that we know it’s not going to be done by Obama. Hence the lack of masterful achievement. > [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > (-TonySinclair 02-05-2014 04:13 PM) Assad retaining control of Syria is not a security threat to the US. CW’s in an unstable region with an AQ presence is most definitely a security threat to the US. CW’s in the hands of Assad were not a security threat to the US in the first place. What does make it unstable is fueling a revolt against Assad and hoping the terrorists involved don’t win. Obama is increasing the likelihood terrorists will gain weapons. > [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > Half a loaf is better than none, and from a US security POV, this is better than half, with zero risk to US troops. I realize that if you guys were in charge, you’d hold out for complete peace and harmony throughout the entire Middle East, but Obama lives in the real world. half a loaf? Now you’re talking about half dead zombies. Either the masterful achievement did something, or it didn’t. If it didn’t stop deaths and instead created an agreement that gives free reign to it then I’d it would be the opposite of achievement. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/810 "2014-02-17T22:56:53Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Oh we know how it could be done. It’s just that we know it’s not going to be done by Obama. What is not going to be done by Obama? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/811 "2014-02-17T23:51:09Z")
> [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > What is not going to be done by Obama? What we were just talking about in the post you responded do. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/812 "2014-02-18T00:13:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > What we were just talking about in the post you responded do. Why do you ask? What is the post number? ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/813 "2014-02-18T00:41:44Z")
> [@](#): > > (-NotfooledbyW 02-17-2014 07:13 AM) Since you ‘have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to the killing’ perhaps you can accept why the CW threat had to removed and is a great achievement in progress. \<“Cite” > > > [@](#): > > > > (-Shodan 02-17-2014 01:25 PM) Are you saying that it is a great achievement because it doesn’t reduce the number of deaths, or in spite of the fact that it doesn’t reduce the number of deaths? Neither. The longstanding effort by the world’s community of nations to eliminate all CW from the face of the earth, has never had anything to do with an immediate reduction of the number of deaths by conventional weapons in the civil war in Syria. There were calls for Assad to get rid of his CW long before the civil war broke out. He would not admit that he had them. The civil war gives destroying the CW urgency because if Assad were to fall… no telling who would get control of them. Why are so many nations spending millions of dollars and resources to destroy Assad’s 1300 Ton arsenal if it is not a big achievement? Contracts have been awarded last week in the amount of $55 million to destroy 500 Tons. Why spend the money if it is no threat or in safe-keeping with the murderous tyrant Bashar Assad? ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/814 "2014-02-18T01:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > (-NotfooledbyW 02-17-2014 07:13 AM) Since you ‘have no idea how the US or anyone can put an end to the killing’ perhaps you can accept why the CW threat had to removed and is a great achievement in progress. > > > [@](#): > > > > (-Magiver 02-17-2014 02:23 PM) Oh we know how it could be done. It’s just that we know it’s not going to be done by Obama. Is Obama ‘not’ going to ‘take Assad out’ which, _as the following twosome of experts advise_, means genocide for the Alawites and Christians in Syria? Is that what Obama is ‘not’ going to do? > [@](#): > > (-Ají de Gallina 09-14-2013 12:47 PM) Let’s not forget that “taking Assad out” means genocide for the Alawites. > > > [@](#): > > > > (-John Mace 09-14-2013 04:39 PM) And the Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/815 "2014-02-18T03:51:53Z")
For the final time: - Assad exchanged some/many/most/all CW for a free hand at genocide. - The original claim was that CW were going to be used by Assad > [@](#): > > _“Ensuring that a dictator’s wanton use of chemical weapons never again comes to pass, we believe is worth pursuing and achieving,” Kerry said._" (from your own post #2), it later changed to “maybe Al Qaida gets them”. Obama’s red line wasn’t about AQ, it was about Assad. The agreement, again, gave Assad permission for a genocide. Let that sink, the agreement guaranteed no foreign intervention. Obama took a b ad situation, civil war, and changed it to a free-hand genocide. His intervention made it worse. Assad has no fear, he called Obama’s bluff. If you don’t recognise the vslidity of these arguments, we’ve come at an impasse. There’d be nothing else to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/816 "2014-02-18T04:47:45Z")
Well, those of us “scoffers” who predicted that Syria would delay and stall sure have been proven wrong. And when we said they’d blame fighting with the insurgents? How wrong could we have been! [Syria Likely to Miss Deadline to Destroy Chemical Weapons](http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-syria-likely-to-miss-deadline-to-destroy-chemical-weapons/1851814.html) > [@](#): > > Syria has relinquished only 11 percent of its chemical weapons in three shipments, and it increasingly appears the nation will miss a politically-loaded midyear deadline to completely destroy the toxic stockpile, sources told Reuters on Friday. > > \ > > Syria has blamed the delay on the security situation due to fighting with insurgents, which has been ongoing for nearly three years and has killed more than 130,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes. Meanwhile, as predicted, Assad is firmly ensconced in power, making a mockery of the Geneva talks to negotiate a settlement. Masterful, indeed. Score one more for team Putin/Assad. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/817 "2014-02-18T09:02:29Z")
> [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > Neither. The longstanding effort by the world’s community of nations to eliminate all CW from the face of the earth, has never had anything to do with an immediate reduction of the number of deaths by conventional weapons in the civil war in Syria. There were calls for Assad to get rid of his CW long before the civil war broke out. He would not admit that he had them. The civil war gives destroying the CW urgency because if Assad were to fall… no telling who would get control of them. so giving arms to rebels would be a reckless thing to do wouldn’t it? > [@NotfooledbyW](#): > > Why are so many nations spending millions of dollars and resources to destroy Assad’s 1300 Ton arsenal if it is not a big achievement? Contracts have been awarded last week in the amount of $55 million to destroy 500 Tons. Why spend the money if it is no threat or in safe-keeping with the murderous tyrant Bashar Assad? There aren’t many nations involved so your first question isn’t relevant. As to why a politician like Obama whose opinion polls are tanking want to divert attention away from domestic problems do it? No idea. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/818 "2014-02-18T11:32:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Magiver Oh we know how it could be done. It’s just that we know it’s not going to be done by Obama. > > > [@](#): > > > > What is not going to be done by Obama? I’ll keep asking until you answer this question: What is Obama **not** going to do that could be done to stop or reduce the killing of civilians by Assad’s army using conventional weapons? You said you know how it could be done so how could it be done? ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/819 "2014-02-18T11:42:46Z")
Originally Posted by NotfooledbyW Neither. The longstanding effort by the world’s community of nations to eliminate all CW from the face of the earth, has never had anything to do with an immediate reduction of the number of deaths by conventional weapons in the civil war in Syria. There were calls for Assad to get rid of his CW long before the civil war broke out. He would not admit that he had them. The civil war gives destroying the CW urgency because if Assad were to fall… no telling who would get control of them. > [@](#): > > -Magiver asks: “so giving arms to rebels would be a reckless thing to do wouldn’t it?” It would be reckless to give heavy weaponry to the rebels or do anything to precipitate a chaotic and sudden fall of the Assad regime unless all the chemical weapons aresenal has been removed and/or destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![NotfooledbyW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852/820 "2014-02-18T12:14:09Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, those of us “scoffers” who predicted that Syria would delay and stall sure have been proven wrong. And when we said they’d blame fighting with the insurgents? How wrong could we have been! The original scoffers were laughing at the idea that the UN could actually get Assad to do anything substantial to give up control of his CW arsenal… Scoffing along these lines: John Mace on 09-14-2013 at 04:39 PM scoffs: “Anyone here want to volunteer to be a WMD inspector for the UN? Where do you find people who would take that job!?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852.md?page=40) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-us-unsc-deal-reached-what-it-it-means-for-masterful-us-president-and-sec-of-state-legacy/668852.md?page=42)