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US officials warn Assad against deploying chemical weapons

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    Report: Syrian forces loading sarin gas into bombs

  • Duration 3:00
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-- of course part of what makes president Assad so dangerous right now is that he's desperate.

And there's a frightening idea that he may have little to lose by deploying chemical weapons.

World leaders have called for Assad to step down in half for a long time and his people have been rebelling against him for a year and a half now.

Now that opposition forces have turned their focus -- -- power base in the capital Damascus he is has very few options remaining.

So using whatever means he can to delay the inevitable might not seem like such a terrible idea to him.

And that's exactly what the people as people in Washington so worry tonight.

The Fox -- -- of course Fonda Jonathan Hunt is on set -- -- tonight do we know.

Exactly where the United States is getting the intelligence information on these suppose it's chemical weapons.

You know would -- no because on the grounds that they don't want to compromise their intelligence sources US officials.

On telling us of those questions -- -- particularly given.

But the experiences we had -- intelligence in the run up to the Iraq war in 2000 straight if we don't have our own resource is on the -- From whom are we getting this -- that these chemical weapons of being prepared and how reliable -- those sources.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta would not be drawn on that earlier today listen.

Without comment on the a specific intelligence.

That we have with regards to these chemical weapons -- I think there is no question.

That we remain very concerned -- intelligence.

That we have reasons serious concerns that this is being considered.

And certainly and -- the -- is not being sounded just to -- US officials this time around.

Several European nations and the UN Secretary General have repeatedly warned that this is a potential threat.

And have repeatedly warned president a sad not to go through with a chip there's another school of thought here.

Albeit a dangerous when and that is that Assad is just playing a game.

Yet the idea being here that he is finally completely desperate he is realizing finally.

That he is now I was surrounded by the rebels in Damascus that the out getting close up.

And closer attack ousting him that -- -- if he stays there would -- in his death so this might be.

A final negotiating.

Ploy on the -- -- president of sat with the international community listen.

Another way to look at is he wants Russia and others to notice that he's taking this potentially suicidal step.

In the hopes of one last diplomatic solution that so far he's been a guest but he may now see is his only hope.

And -- maybe if Russia is persuaded that -- on the doorstep of -- or or suicide for that matter -- suicide that Russia will finally help us do a deal to get -- Power sharing arrangement so a power sharing arrangement -- perhaps.

Trying to get some sort of asylum deal either way if it's the threat of chemical weapons that he's using.

It seems less about negotiation.

And more about -- and Jonathan Hunt thanks very much.

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