Syria's Chemical Weapons

Paul Schulte TV/Radio Broadcast December 4, 2012 BBC Wales

Summary

Syria is widely believed to possess weapons of mass destruction, in particular a large chemical weapons arsenal.

Related Topics

Nuclear Weapons

Listen to the broadcast

Carnegie's Paul Schulte spoke to BBC Wales about the situation in Syria, where 40,000 people have died since the uprising began in March last year. Schulte pointed out that it is very widely believed that Syria possesses weapons of mass destruction and that the United States claims to have sufficient intelligence on specific chemicals.

"It's most likely that they [Syria] have a quite large chemical arsenal because they have been doing this over a number of years, and even apparently in the last few months they have been trying to build up their stocks," Schulte said, adding that the chemicals in the arsenal would "be in different stages of preparation."

But the new news, Schulte pointed out, is that specific chemicals are being brought together to make an extremely modern and potent nerve gas called sarin. "We might be entering an endgame of a civil war in which atrocity becomes almost unavoidable because of the fear of reprisals," said Schulte, adding that "nobody is very attracted by the idea of getting drawn into a Syrian civil war."

To Schulte, the deployment of Patriot missile batteries along the Turkish border with Syria is about reassuring the Turks who "are in the front line of this very difficult situation." "It's a way of NATO emphasizing its solidarity," Schulte concluded.

About the Nuclear Policy Program

The Carnegie Nuclear Policy Program is an internationally acclaimed source of expertise and policy thinking on nuclear industry, nonproliferation, security, and disarmament. Its multinational staff stays at the forefront of nuclear policy issues in the United States, Russia, China, Northeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.

Source: http://carnegieeurope.eu/2012/12/04/syria-s-chemical-weapons/er98

More from The Global Think Tank

Uranium Enrichment Program in Syria?

Summary New allegations that Syria might have been clandestinely enriching uranium underline the challenges in preventing the spread of uranium enrichment capabilities and the need to do more to stop nuclear technology and know-how from falling into the wrong hands. More >

The IAEA and Syria: A New Paradigm for Noncompliance?

Summary The board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), by nearly a three-to-one margin, declared Syria out of compliance with its safeguards obligations and reported the issue to the UN Security Council on June 9. More >

Arms Control Wonk

Problems Facing Syria's Referral to the UN Security Council

Summary While the International Atomic Energy Agency has passed a resolution that refers Syria to the UN Security Council for constructing a covert nuclear reactor, there are a number of significant problems with the resolution that could affect the UN’s ability to take action. More >

November 9, 2012 Washington, D.C.

Building a New Syria

Summary The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will host one-day conference with high-level experts focusing on the political, socio-economic, and regional implications of the ongoing conflict in Syria and efforts to construct a new Syrian state. More >

Twitter

@CarnegieEndow

@CarnegieEndow

In Fact

years ago

Carnegie began an internship program. Notable alumni include Samantha Power.

1 in 3

Syrians

now needs urgent assistance.

70%

of oil consumed in the United States

is for the transportation sector.

20%

of Chechnya’s pre-1994 population

has fled to different parts of the world.

58%

of oil consumed in China

was from foreign sources in 2012.

50%

of Syria’s population

is expected to be displaced by the end of 2013.

million cases pending

in India’s judicial system.

million people killed

in Cold War conflicts.

18%

of the U.S. economy

is consumed by healthcare.

$536

billion in goods and services

traded between the United States and China in 2012.

$100

billion in foreign investment and oil revenue

have been lost by Iran because of its nuclear program.

4700%

increase in China’s GDP per capita

between 1972 and today.

$11

billion have been spent

to complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran.

of Iran’s electricity needs

is all the Bushehr nuclear reactor provides.

new airports

are set to be built in China by 2015.

journalists

were imprisoned in Turkey as of August 2012 according to the OSCE.

67%

of the world's population

will reside in cities by 2050.

million Russian citizens

are considered “ethnic Muslims.”

Stay in the Know

Enter your email address in the field below to receive the latest Carnegie analysis in your inbox!

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Regions

Countries