Syria – Why Use Chemicals?

According to this STRAFOR SITREP, the Obama administration has ordered the U.S. military to either prepare for a military strike against the Syrian regime or to make a show of force to intimidate the Syrian government and their alleged use of chemical weapons on their citizenry.

Why would the Syrians use chemical weapons? They are getting arms and various munitions and weapons systems from the Russians, and the results are showing gains on the battlefield. The introduction of chemical weaponry would indicate that the al Asad government was making a last ditch effort to save itself regardless of the outside threats of intervention. Such a last ditch effort when coupled with the success on the battlefield does not make sense. STRAFOR makes a case that if the government did use the chemical weapons, then it is basically calling the bluff of the U.N. and the European nations. I would doubt the Syrians would roll the dice on such a large scale. (full article here)

Given the ruthlessness of the various rebel organizations lined up against the al Asad government, any chemical use would seen to be in their favor. Even without direct intervention with boots-on-the-ground, the rebels could logically expect the application of no-fly zones and interdiction of supply routes to the government troops. While backing al Asad up to this point, even the Russians might reevaluate their support of the government, and that would be a death knell for the Syrian regime.

Regardless of the outcome of the anticipated investigation into chemical use, the United States has no business becoming involved in this war outside of providing medical and food supplies. Al Asad has not been a friend to the U.S. or Israel and has been a willing pawn for the Iranians. If the rebels depose al Asad, then a radical Islamic state will be in place, and our current record of dealings with those entities indicates that the situation will be worse than with al Asad.