(Image source: New York Times )

 

BY FERDOUS AL-FARUQUE

 

For months the Obama administration has warned the Assad regime of its imminent demise but with the assassination of Syria’s top three defense officials on Wednesday, western observers say that may be closer to becoming a reality.

 

The New York Times cites unnamed sources who say White House officials were in meetings Wednesday discussing contingency plans if the regime did collapse, and says in particular they are worried about what will happen to Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons. Though the administration is against the idea, The Times says, “Pentagon officials were in talks with Israeli defense officials about whether Israel might move to destroy Syrian weapons facilities.”

 

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the Syrian regime, with one of the world’s largest arsenals of chemical weapons, which includes sarin and mustard gas, was moving its stockpiles around and making the White House nervous as to its intentions. The Journal says:

 

WSJ: “Some U.S. officials fear Damascus intends to use the weapons against the rebels or civilians, potentially as part of a targeted ethnic cleansing campaign. But other officials said Mr. Assad may be trying to safeguard the material from his opponents or to complicate Western powers' efforts to track the weapons.”


 

Whatever the Assad regime has planned for its chemical stockpiles, we might soon find out, according to Fox News’ James Rosen:

 

Rosen:   “Analysts agree that if Assad is inclined to train those chemical weapons on his own people that sad event would probably start happening soon.”
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/shepard-smith/index.html

 

To make matters worse for the U.S. and its allies, Jordanian King Abdullah told CNN Wednesday that his regime is confirming the presence of al-Qaeda in parts of Syria and is concerned they could get their hands on the weapons.

 


 Abdullah: “We can’t afford the use of those chemical weapons obviously on the Syrian people but also the chemical weapons falling into the wrong hands.”

 

Because of the structure of Assad’s extensive chemical weapons program, stopping him from using his weapons may not be possible, even if the U.S. military suddenly decided to intervene. According to Wired Magazine’s Spencer Ackerman and Noah Shachtman:

 

Wired: “Wednesday’s bombings may have shown Assad that... his end is visible. But if he uses his chemical weapons, or spirits them away in an act of revenge, there may not be much [Defense Secretary] Panetta can do about it.”