Fears Al Qaeda could try to seize Syrian WMD arsenal

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We're gonna turn to the situation in Syria now a very new fears that Syria's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and is something that really is preventing us in one way or the other.

From getting involved in that country beside regime is believed to have won the world's largest stockpiles and anthrax.

Mustard gas and other weapons there's no reports at least at this time that we know -- I'm the government using these weapons on the uprising that there is concern about the future and where these weapons -- -- uprising continues stay at his anger is the director of the program.

An Arab politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy he's also former middle Easter and -- Middle East advisor.

I -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

-- David nice -- back with this today we we mentioned there's no reports that we know of anthrax being used that you.

You've heard -- some other unconfirmed reports from inside the country of with the regime is potentially doing he talks a little bit about that.

We've heard few reports about.

Phosphorus which is the I troops to lobbed to white areas of operation you fired the air and it.

It -- -- DC area.

But when it falls it is a burning agent and it's oftentimes.

Whether it seems like if he used against civilian populations it is like -- feel like napalm it stays on the skin and dot.

It's considered to be a chemical agent.

At where are these stockpiles and we we mention that they're big but can you give us some contacts and Bob what exactly we're talking about here.

Well listen that there are about forty.

Or so sites throughout the country where there are believed to be -- -- chemical weapons that are.

But you know lies he said mustard gas or he acts or some other types of anthrax said Iraq chemical and and biological agents that have been weaponized.

These are dispersed throughout the country and under the the guard of -- Syrian troops who are loyal to -- -- offside and they're dispersed.

The question is really what happens if these units are overrun by a divisions or battalions of the free Syria army.

Which is the opposition troops -- what happens to these weapons and I think the United States the military is increasingly concerned.

About the disposition in the future of these -- It's actually a little bit about that about that -- we've we've said this and we often see this -- we sit in Libya you know what happens if these weapons.

Fall into the wrong hands why aren't they in the wrong hands are ready.

If they're under the control of the Syrian government.

No absolutely.

I think that this is a government that is has proven to be brutal.

On the not respect any conventions the human rights -- -- they're not to be trusted with with -- So how how do you ever think that figures in nor does it at all.

In our policy with Syria at this time and whether or not we're going to get more involved whenever that may look like.

Well listen if -- if you don't get involved the fear is that these are gonna fall into the wrong hands at that sites will be overrun perhaps.

And lawless areas that al-Qaeda could somehow get their hands on them that can be leakage.

To people that we don't want to see.

I think that an optimum -- to be saying that we should try and end this conflict as quickly as possible by supporting the rebels.

Who will be more responsible hopefully with these weapons of mass destruction.

But the longer this goes on the more cancer is for these two fall -- -- it at present its not driving the administration to go more quickly.

I think that they're sitting wringing their hands wondering.

How what should we do about this -- meanwhile.

Though there is instability in Syria and more chance these are gonna -- out.

He's sending another point to consider while -- contained -- cover.

-- this story as it develops did a nice to have you as always thank you so.

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Fears Al Qaeda could try to seize Syrian WMD arsenal

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