What to Make of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack

What to Make of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack

Photo: Flickr/ PanARMENIAN_Photo

It appears the Syrians have spectacularly upped the ante by using chemical weapons. In the coming days, we’ll learn more about the attack – who did it, under whose authority, how extensive the attack was, and how much damage it has done. But any use of weapons of mass destruction – which chemical weapons are considered to be and the use of which has been specifically outlawed and taboo since the early 20^th century – is an escalation the significance of which simply can’t be overstated. That it was done the day before the President of the United States visits the region is, well, also kind of a big deal.
The apparent chemical weapons attack in Aleppo – the Israeli press is reporting it as a fact confirmed by unnamed Israeli sources while the White House responded with more caution – will change things. There will now be overwhelming international pressure for direct action against the Syrian regime. Whether that action will take the form of a no-fly zone (which was already being seriously discussed) or some kind of bombing campaign as we saw in Libya, time will tell.
The brutality of this attack also shouldn’t be forgotten. One of the few horrors of war that has been largely off the table for the last near-century has been chemical attack. Since the nerve gas warfare of World War I, regimes that use chemical weapons, like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War in the ‘80s and against his own Kurdish population, have been ostracized and alienated – untouchable even among rogue nations. That Assad’s regime has resorted to these weapons is a sign either that they are totally desperate or have completely lost control of their commanders. Or both.
Lastly, what is Israel to make of an out-of-control, teetering regime on its northern border suddenly resorting to chemical weapons use? No doubt, the IDF will be prepared for a very significant response should chemical weapons fall on Israel.
The last 24 hours have brought us an even more dangerous world than we had before. It’s always a good time to pray – but this is an especially good time.

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