Don't the rebels in Syria also have stockpiles of chemical weapons?

[Aerows]

I could swear I read a news report that Turkey found some in a rebel stronghold.

Why are we discussing intervention (really, war) about one side using chemical weapons if both sides are using them? It seems rather idiotic to me.

It seems like breaking up a fight because guns got involved and both sides have them, so now we whip out bigger guns and kill one side.

[cali]

1. they probably have some, but not stockpiles

Assad has one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world and a much greater capacity to deliver them.

Oh, and the goal isn't to "kill one side" or even damage it much. It's to punish Assad and demonstrate that the admin means what it says. Sort of ritualistic political posturing.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. What was Turkey doing looking in rebel strongholds in Syria?

There has been little evidence of both sides using them, (the Syrian government who makes and stores these munitions has made those accusations) but a lot of evidence of Syria violating International law and using them. Should the rebel units be found to use them, then they to should suffer a cruise missile attack.

[Aerows]

5. Well then I guess we should just

launch cruise missiles all over the country then, because I read earlier this morning that Turkey found rebels that had some. Or are you saying that Turkey is lying? That seems like a bold claim.

[Agnosticsherbet]

8. Post a link to an official clalim by the Turkish government.

I found the story at Walid Shoebat and Before its news, but neither has anything official. I would think and extraordinary claim like that would come from the Turkish government, not bloggers.

[Scootaloo]

9. See my post below for link to Zaman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaman_%28newspaper%29

It' Turkey's largest daily newspaper, and the report comes from the state security forces in Adana.

Official enough? Or shall I give erdogan a call and put him on the line for you or something?

[Aerows]

13. If you don't want to believe

for various reasons, you won't. It's fucking sad to see people try to justify interfering in this. And it isn't intervention - it's interference.

[PDJane]

3. Precisely.

[Aerows]

6. It rather makes me ill

that they reasons they are trying to float to get involved are so ridiculous, yet precious American resources and lives could be at stake. This isn't a damn video game.

[PDJane]

11. Precious lives in Syria too....

And broken infrastructure, dead children, and you can't just drop a bomb on the stockpiles and not kill more and more. I really, really don't understand this.

[Aerows]

12. Me either, PDJane

It looks like a disaster. We don't give a damn what happens in Sub-Saharan Africa, but we are always so quick to get involved in the ME. Nobody can ask why with a straight face anymore.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Remember we're all being played.

Even Obama.

[Scootaloo]

7. Yup, Turkish police found sarin canisters in the homes of al-Nusrah militants in Turkey

And stated they believed they were going to be transported to Syria.

http://www.zaman.com.tr/gundem_sarin-gaziyla-yakalanan-5-el-kaide-militani-tutuklandi_2096280.html

ADANA

Evlerinde 2 kilo sarin gazıyla yakalanan 12 El Kaide üyesinden 5’i tutuklandı. Adana Emniyet Müdürlüğü, hafta başında El Kaide’nin Suriye’de örgütlü El Nusra Cephesi üyelerine yönelik Adana ve Mersin’de operasyon düzenledi.

Operasyon kapsamında militanların evlerindeki aramalarda, Kimyasal Silahlar Konvensiyonu tarafından yasaklanmış, vücuttaki sinir sistemlerinin dengesini bozarak felç meydana getiren bir tür gaz olan sarin bulunduğu belirtiliyor. Emniyet Müdürlüğü’nde ifadeleri alınan 12 kişiden 6’sı sağlık kontrollerinin ardından serbest bırakıldı. Önceki gün sabah adli mercilere sevk edilen 6 kişi saat 14.30’da cumhuriyet savcısına ifade vermeye başladı. Gece geç saatlere kadar süren ifadelerin ardından nöbetçi mahkemeye sevk edilen 6 kişiden 5’i tutuklandı, 1’i tutuksuz yargılanmak üzere serbest bırakıldı. El Kaide’nin El Nusra Cephesi, Suriye’deki en büyük üçüncü silahlı grup olarak biliniyor.

========================

Adana

12 al-Qaeda members arrested in their homes 2 pounds, 5 arrested sarin gas. Adana Security Directorate, El Nusra Front organized earlier in the week for members of al-Qaeda in Syria, the operation held in Adana and Mersin.

Under the operation of their home calls militants, banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention on the body, forming a kind of paralysis of the nervous system by disrupting the balance of sarin gas, where the report says. 6 out of 12 statements from the police headquarters and released after health checks. 6 people were referred to judicial authorities earlier in the day in the morning at 14.30 referred to the public prosecutor began. Expressions which lasted until late at night and then transferred to the court of the guard was arrested 6 people, 5, and 1 was released pending trial. Al-Qaeda's Al Nusra Front, an armed group known as the third largest in Syria.

[Aerows]

10. Thanks, Scoot

I knew I read that somewhere. Thanks for the link and additional information.

So once again, I have to ask, why are we getting involved again? Because it doesn't seem to be for any legitimate reason to me. Granted that's my opinion, but I don't think I'm alone in thinking reasons for wading into this acid bath have been flimsy and contrived.