Live streams

Panetta: Syria Considering Using Chemical Weapons

TEXT SIZE - +

Luis Ramirez

December 06, 2012

PENTAGON — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said intelligence reports suggest the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is considering using chemical weapons against advancing rebels.

The defense secretary’s confirmation there is intelligence suggesting Syria is considering using chemical weapons follows media reports that quoted U.S. sources as saying Assad’s forces have begun preparations to launch poison gas attacks.

“There is no question that we remain very concerned, very concerned, that as the opposition advances, in particular on Damascus, that the regime might very well consider the use of chemical weapons,” said Panetta.

Suspected Syrian Chemical Weapons

Sarin

Man-made highly toxic odorless, tasteless, colorless nerve agent
Possibly used during Iraq-Iran war
Exposure can be by inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption; people can recover with treatment form mild or moderate exposure

Odorless, tasteless man-made nerve agent; most potent of all nerve agents
Slow to evaporate, can last for days on objects
Exposure can be through skin contact or inhalation; people can recover with treatment for mild or moderate exposure

Mustard Gas

Chemical warfare agent that causes skin blisters and mucous membranes
Sometimes odorless, sometimes smells like garlic, onions or mustard
Exposure can be by inhalation, ingestion or skin contact
Vapor released in the air can be carried long distances; exposure not usually fatal

Source: CDC

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Panetta repeated warnings to Assad, saying there will be consequences if the embattled Syrian leader decides to use chemical weapons against his own people.

“I am not going to speculate or comment what those potential consequences would be, but I think it is fair enough to say that their use of those weapons will cross the red line," he said. "The intelligence that we have raises serious concerns that this is being considered.”

Panetta did not say what that intelligence is. U.S. and allied officials say they have detected ‘movement activity’ around Syria’s chemical weapons sites. Media reports quote unidentified U.S. officials as saying the Assad government is moving components of sarin gas and loading it onto bombs.

Syria's deputy foreign minister, Faisal Maqdad, alleged Thursday that Western countries were raising the threat of chemical weapons as an excuse to intervene.

The Assad government in July acknowledged it has chemical weapons, but said it would use them only against foreign invaders.

You May Like

Russia Cracks Down on Gay Activism

Arrest of 30 activists coincided with first-ever gay rights rally in neighboring Ukraine, which was allowed by authorities, protected by police More

In Hong Kong, Beef Over Sammy Kitchen's 3D Cow

Much to the dismay of restaurant owner Sammy Yip, authorities have turned an inhospitable eye toward his giant cow looming over Queen's Road West More

Cambodian director Rithy Panh waves as he poses during a photo call, Oct. 24, 2008 (File)

Cambodian Documentary Wins Cannes Prize for Innovative Cinema

In 'The Missing Picture', Rithy Panh uses clay figurines to tell story of Khmer Rouge brutality More

This forum has been closed.

Comment Sorting

Comments

by: Igor from: Russia

December 08, 2012 3:07 AM

Report Comment

Panetta said that Syrian government was considering using chemical weapons and threatened to punish them. So who will punish those who spread Agent Orange in Vietnam during the Vietnam war killing and affecting millions of Vietnamese people? Nobody!
Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, codenamed Curveball by German and American intelligence officials who dealt with his claims, has told the Guardian that he fabricated tales of mobile bioweapons trucks and clandestine factories in an attempt to bring down the Saddam Hussein regime. And Panetta is trying to do the same thing. What a liar!!!

by: Rianto from: Indonesia

December 06, 2012 9:04 PM

Report Comment

What will happen to the chemical weapon if the rebels win the war? Won't that weapon will be sold to the terrorist group that join the rebels?
World is still in danger.

by: jethromayham from: usa

December 06, 2012 6:45 PM

Report Comment

Talk of gas is so premature because every article says that all incidents have not been verified due to govt. restrictions in Syria.
So shouldn't we have actual proof instead of huffing and puffing?
If we cry wolf, they just might follow our suggestions and use it in desperation.
We are already near or beyond the 40,000 mark and have quite a ways to go before reaching the redline of 100,000. Now if the media would just stop making a nig splash with no proof. I am sure tht our government already made it plain what the US would do through a third party long ago and most recently. So there is no use to toot the horn so much.

We all want peace and not more war.

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.

Video

Volunteers Help Revive LA's Concrete River

The Los Angeles River is a concrete drainage channel through much of its 80-kilometer length. It channels waste-water from storm drains and has become a receptacle for much of the city's trash. But as Mike O'Sullivan reports, the river is slowly being restored with the help of volunteers, who take part in an annual clean-up.