Soldier training with gas mask. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Mr James Brabenec (IMCOM)
The White House unveiled on Thursday that they have reason to suspect that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons “on a small scale” in that country’s civil war. However, in a letter to Congress, the White House said they want “credible and corroborated facts” before taking action.
One unknown is how the weapon was used and by whom. The letter, posted on the website of US Sen. John McCain, said the US intelligence community assesses “with varying degrees of confidence” that Sarin gas was used by the Syrian regime. Israel made a similar claim earlier this week.
This matters to you because the US has consistently said using chemical weapons is a “red line.” The possibility of the US going to war in Syria isn’t out of the question. In fact, the letter itself said no option is off the table.
Sarin gas kills people by exhausting the muscles needed for breathing. It’s victims die because they simply can’t breathe anymore. Aside from the horror of watching innocents die in Syria, the US also is concerned that chemical weapons there could reach terrorists.
For now, the US wants to investigate situation fully, but if proven, chemical weapons use could force the US and Europe to get involved militarily.
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, April 26, 2013)