# Why Would Assad Use Chemical Weapons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238 "2013-08-26T19:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/61 "2013-08-29T14:41:50Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > **You can’t talk about government as being separate from the people.** > We are the government, you and I. We the people. Why do you say so? If say, 90% of the people are against arming rebels against Assad which results in loss of 100,000+ lives, then Government is acting against the will of the people. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/62 "2013-08-29T15:54:59Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > good news…the UK Parliament has told Cameron :“No War”; now Obama is floundering and backtracking. Its the perfect ending to a screwed up idea. Maybe Congress is starting to listen to their constituents! That fits. Congress is trying to convince Obama that he needs congressional approval for this. That could actually be good political cover for Obama: Obama pledges to seek Congressional approval, because that’s the proper way & all that. Congress says “Fuck No!”, and Obama shrugs his shoulders and says, “Oh shucks. I guess my hands are tied.” That’s assuming that the administration is actually looking for a way out of this, of course. If they start arguing that the 9/11 Omnipotence Act gives them authority to launch strikes w/out congressional approval, then I guess they’re looking for a fight. On their terms, of course. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/63 "2013-08-29T18:30:11Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Obama’s challenge is to try to thread the needle here, in doing something to preserve his - and by extension the country’s - credibility, while not doing anything which is otherwise counterproductive. It’s a tough all. I hear what you’re saying. Making empty threats and not following through on them is a bad habit. Making one strident remark and then not following through on it because of extenuating circumstances and new evidence is just a wise decision and will be seen as such by friendly nations. I don’t know if the US can do right by its enemies whether it follows through on the threat or backs off. Either one is likely going to be interpreted in the worst light possible. It is a tough call. I’m glad I’m not the one having to make it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/64 "2013-08-29T23:59:39Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > If Assad truly has lost control of his NBC arsenal, then it’s up to us to take care of it. Some day, and that day may never come, we will call upon you to do a service for us. After all, that’s why we pay you. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/65 "2013-08-30T21:29:26Z")
[http://www.npr.org/2013/08/30/217099490/what-would-be-the-best-targets-to-hit-in-syria](http://www.npr.org/2013/08/30/217099490/what-would-be-the-best-targets-to-hit-in-syria) > [@](#): > > GREENE: But even if the capacity is exaggerated, as you say, I mean, if Assad were able to even fire back at one U.S. vessel in the Mediterranean, wouldn’t that be enough to escalate this in a significant way? > > [General] KEANE: What is he going to fire back at it with? He doesn’t have any capability to sink our ships. This a relatively poorly trained air power organization that he has. I mean, their only skill set is to deliver bombs in populated areas. Actually, the reason why chemical weapons were used is because the rebels moved in to an eastern neighborhood in Damascus, Assad pounded it with artillery, with mortars, with attack helicopters, and also with his air power. He could not dislodge them. > > And then the week prior to the use of chemical weapons, the opposition forces there received the shipment through Jordon from Saudi Arabia, which did include some Soviet-style anti-aircraft weapons. They shot two of his airplanes out of the sky. No airplane has flown in that area since, and he used chemical weapons. So according to that, their conventional weapons weren’t working. Air superiority had failed as the rebels had anti-aircraft weapons and they were too dug in for artillery or an invasion to take them. out. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/66 "2013-08-31T05:06:33Z")
[How US Media Is Pushing For War With Syria.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urrFL95bjcU) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/67 "2013-08-31T15:26:03Z")
I think some posters are not considering that Assad is major asshole. One who’s been in an long ass fight for his life. If the rebels win, he is not to be put in a retirement home. They will kill him and his family and like a bad roach infestation they won’t stop. So, yeah, use the gas. Hell, he’s been getting away with murder for what, a year now? Longer? With Putin and China there will never be a UN security council resolution, he’s not sitting on top of a lot of OIL so who gives a fuck. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238/68 "2013-08-31T17:11:53Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I think some posters are not considering that Assad is major asshole. > > One who’s been in an long ass fightbor his life. If the rebels win, he is not to be put in a retirement home. They will kill him and his family and like a bad roach infestation they won’t stop. So, yeah, use the gas. Hell, he’s been getting away with murder for what, a year now? Longer? With Putin and China there will never be a UN security council resolution, he’s not sitting on top of a lot of OIL so who gives a fuck. He could have tried for an easier route by taking refuge in Russia, iran or some other friendly nation. He knows non-sunnis will be persecuted in case of regime change. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-assad-use-chemical-weapons/667238.md?page=3)