Syria says could use chemical arms against foreigners

Original from Reuters and also saw it onYahoo

(Reuters) - Western states expressed alarm after Syria acknowledged for the first time that it has chemical and biological weapons and said it could use them if foreign countries intervene.

Defying Arab foreign ministers who on Sunday offered Assad a "safe exit" if he stepped down, the Syrian leader has launched fierce counter-offensives, reflecting his determination to keep power as the uprising enters its most violent phase.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the army would not use chemical weapons to crush rebels but could use them against forces from outside the country.

"Any chemical or bacterial weapons will never be used ... during the crisis in Syria regardless of the developments," Makdissi said. "These weapons are stored and secured by Syrian military forces and under its direct supervision and will never be used unless Syria faces external aggression."

So.. Assad is seems to be getting more serious...
Do you think that NATO or anyone would still attack under threat of Chemical weapons being used against them? The thing about them is, you can't just blow them up unless you get everything involved and somehow completely incinerate it.. For example, using a bunker buster or something on a fortified chemical storage unit may just release the gas or germs or whatever by allowing it to escape, potentially, and possibly into the general public and surrounding areas? Seems to me the only way you can really be sure of neutralizing that position is to send ground forces in to secure it, although you also risk the Syrians releasing the gas as a defensive tactic..?

The Global Security website, which collects published intelligence reports and other data, says there are four suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria: north of Damascus, near Homs, in Hama and near the Mediterranean port of Latakia. Weapons it produces include the nerve agents VX, sarin and tabun, it said, without citing its sources

My personal belief, is that Syria is fighting a war against western backed 'rebel's (who by the way, incase you missed it, have a percentage that are flying the 'Al-qaeda' Flag.. same is in Libya.. the sworn 'terrorist' enemy of the U.S- (ATS Thread)) and are even being armed by the CIA(ATS Thread)...
Here's Obama's comment on it,

"Given the regime's stockpiles of chemical weapons, we will continue to make it clear to Assad and those around him that the world is watching and that they will be held accountable by the international community and the United States should they make the tragic mistake of using those weapons," U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday

And,

Western countries and Israel have expressed fears chemical weapons could fall into the hands of militant groups as Assad's authority erodes. Israel has publicly discussed military action to prevent Syrian chemical weapons or missiles from reaching Assad's Lebanese Shi'ite militant allies Hezbollah.

So, do you think NATO or anyone to attack Assad, after being warned that he could easily use his chemical weapons to defend his country?

And, in that thought, as horrible as chemical and biological warfare would be, he technically has the rights to defend the country with whatever means possible. I do not condone chem/bio warfare in the slightest, I just worry that this is getting nastier by the day and its only a matter of time that something really terrible is going to happen over there!

Thoughts?!

I have to say thats an extremely stupid move...

Either hes desperate or its a propaganda piece.

I just can't see why he would announce this...

especially since we invaded Iraq on the threat of these types of weapons.

Weapons of mass casualty, I always get annoyed they use WMD when ever they talk about chemicals...

Originally posted by benrl
I have to say thats an extremely stupid move...

Either hes desperate or its a propaganda piece.

I just can't see why he would announce this...

especially since we invaded Iraq on the threat of these types of weapons.

Weapons of mass casualty, I always get annoyed they use WMD when ever they talk about chemicals...

edit on 23-7-2012 by benrl because: (no reason given)

Only, Syria will use them, unlike Iraq.

His admissions of WOMD will do more to cause a western attack than years of attacking his "rebels " would have ever done.