Syria’s Not Disarmed

Syria has missed another deadline with respect to its commitment to dispose of all its chemical weapons.

We’re told, however, that Bashar Assad’s regime has surrendered nearly all its declared stockpile, and the rest should follow in the near future.

Unfortunately, the Syrian government’s “declarations” may not account for chemical weapons it has squirreled away.

Assad’s forces are also alleged recently to have dropped bombs loaded with chlorine gas. That’s a chemical long used as a weapon, but – since it also has commercial applications – it’s an agent Syria can retain.

In short, a lot of deadly chemical agents have been removed from Syria and, therefore, won’t be employed against either combatants or civilians. But a lot may remain, and yet be used in a horrific conflict that shows no sign of abating.