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Could Syria's chemical weapons fall into the wrong hands?

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    Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton weighs in

  • Duration 4:38
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-- -- now this has to do with Syria where there is continued heavy fighting reported in two of its largest cities this is rebel forces -- government troops in the north.

There have been ongoing fighting reported in the streets of the capital of Damascus.

This all puts more pressure on embattled regime -- president Bashar Assad.

Now Israel expressing concern.

That Syria could lose control of its vast stockpiles of chemical weapons and could be considering a possible attack.

To prevent those weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.

What happens if the chemical weapons get loose but joining us now is that every Sunday about this time is the former ambassador the United Nations and -- contributed.

John Bolton good morning ambassador.

-- -- a first let's start with the fighting into the cities what does it mean since it's in the heart of Damascus and what that could did it mean for the Asad regime.

Well this is a further.

Piece of evidence that the regime is under grave threat highlighted obviously by the assassination.

Last week of the defense minister and other key officials right in the heart of the most secure.

Territory that the regime holds.

The Assad regime is attempting to strike back itself with massive force to demonstrate it's still.

In control but I think that's very much in doubt I do think and less -- side wins overwhelming victories.

Across the country soon that his days are likely numbered and what about the chemical weapon.

There's lot of concern if those are those stockpiles are indeed secure could decide to use them.

Against the rebels could -- use them against his own citizens as we saw Saddam Hussein do.

I think it's entirely possible I think that is the first risk that confronted with the collapse of the regime and a possible.

Bloodbath by the opposition against the -- whites and other -- supporters of the regime that.

Aside might use chemical weapons as has been reported by Amnesty International his father used and they come -- massacres of 1982.

That's risk number one -- number two.

Is that as regime authority collapses that those stockpiles of chemical weapons some of which are in motion now.

Could fall into the hands of terrorists.

In the opposition -- could be sold or were taken by terrorist or other rogue states.

So I think this is a critical point.

For the United States for the NATO allies Israel and others to start thinking about what we might have to do.

To prevent that from happening what might we have to do.

Well I think the the first thing we ought to say to the opposition is we expect all opposition forces.

To secure to identify and secure chemical weapons.

Stockpiles.

Of biological weapons program in Syria the nuclear weapons program that Iran has been.

Probably finding and we expect all of that disclosed international -- we don't expect the new regime.

In Syria simply to pick up the inside chemical weapons and other programs.

And beyond that we want to make sure that that we have the opportunity.

To get to those locations as soon as possible through the UN monitors -- if necessary through the use of of military force special operations forces.

To make sure those.

Stockpiles are secured or possibly just.

Roy Israel has raised possibilities of this caught attacking -- taking out those chemical stockpiles and that Leon Panetta.

Is going to Israel this week what to expect the topic of that meeting will be and what does -- -- -- Well I'm sure this will be right at the top of the agenda you know there there's an argument here that it would be better for the US and NATO to deal with the weapons of mass destruction in Syria rather than Israel.

Rather than turn it into another aspect is the Arab Israeli.

Conflict.

But it's a very real risk for Israel and and for everybody Hezbollah the terrorist group right next store and Lebanon.

We've had reports of al-Qaeda.

Among the opposition leaders in Syria.

There are a lot of unpredictable things that can happen -- aside falls refugee flows humanitarian concerns obviously the successor government decided -- his -- Well I think at last we're planning to do something about those chemical weapons and and the nuclear biological programs it could end very badly I'm very worried that the long term risk of those.

Weapons getting into the wrong hands are getting into another set -- wrong hands could be very risky in the region and worldwide.

Ambassador John -- with a chilling warning ambassador thank you'll keep watching the situation has always thank you thank you.

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