Preparing To Handle Syria’s Chemical Weapons -- War On The Rocks
The alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria resurrect a challenge not faced since Saddam Hussein attacked Iraqi Kurds in Halabja in 1988. Syria is generally believed to have a sophisticated chemical warfare program and to have stockpiled chemical weapons in great quantity. If the regime collapses, the security of those weapons would be in doubt. This raises an important question: What can the U.S. military do about Syria’s chemical arsenal, if the direction comes down to keep it out of the hands of terrorists? A weapons of mass destruction (WMD)* elimination mission to secure Syrian chemical weapons and dismantle Syria’s WMD infrastructure has been discussed as an option in the past.
Unclassified testimony by then Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper posits that dealing with Syria’s chemical weapons would be “100 times worse than what we dealt with in Libya” and would involve “an extensive network” of CW-related facilities. The chemical weapons could include missiles, rockets, artillery shells, and aerial bombs filled with mustard agent, sarin nerve agent, and VX nerve agent, in addition to bulk containers of agents and precursors.
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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS
U.S. military at the ready to seize chemical weapons -- CBS
What are the West's military options in Syria? -- AFP
Britain operates secret monitoring station in Middle East: report -- Reuters
Iran Producing, Testing New Air-to-Air, Air-to-Surface Missiles -- Fars news Agency
Iraq needs 90 fighters to build its air force -- Aswat al-Iraq
Japan-made parts to push up price of F-35 fighter jets for ASDF -- Asahi Shimbun
Inside China: China ridicules Indian navy -- Washington Times
Israeli Navy To Buy New Fast Patrol Craft -- Defense News
No foreign power be allowed to set up military base on Indian soil -- Times of India
Indian Navy plans to lift submarine out of water -- Times of India
#WarofWords: As ISAF pulls back on social media attack, Afghans jump in -- Stars and Stripes
Britain is a more modest military power, new defense chief says -- Global Post/Reuters
New British armed forces chief in warning on military morale -- The Guardian
Cairo Military Firmly Hooked to U.S. Lifeline -- New York Times
Egypt and US Defense Industry Not Likely To Break Ties, Analysts Say -- Defense News
The cost of cutting US aid to Egypt -- Kim Ghattas, BBC
US Military Experiments With Twitter Tracking -- Military.com/UPI
Twitter is a treasure trove of terrorist activity, says the U.S. military -- Digital Trends
West Point combat casualties are high in post-9/11 era -- Army Times
F-35 Support Costs Over 55 Years Fall 22%, Pentagon Manager Says -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Investigation Continues into B-1 Crash -- Defense Tech
F-35B Flies With Weapons; USS Wasp Testing Expanded Carrier Ops -- Breaking Defense
Smartphones for soldiers reach Afghan front line -- Washington Times
General Dynamics Wins $562 Million SOCOM Truck Deal -- DoD Buzz
Special Ops Command Announces $560M Award for Critical New Vehicle -- Defense News
USAF Planning Decade-Long Huey Extension -- Defense News
Navy Overhauls Phalanx Ship Defense Weapon -- Defense Tech
Pentagon Weighs Firing Thousands Under 2014 Spending Cuts -- Bloomberg
Army, Navy target top brass, headquarters spending in latest cuts -- Stars and Stripes
Sequestration Hits Military Senior Ranks -- The Atlantic
U.S. Military Will Remain Strong Despite Budget Cuts, Hagel Tells Hawaii Marines -- US Department of Defense
Pentagon Spent Over $4 Billion on Mental Health Treatment Between 2007 and 2012 -- NextGov
Chelsea Manning's Gender Transition Could Set Military Precedent -- Matt Sledge, Huffington Post
Life as a Transgender Woman in a Military Prison: What's Ahead for Chelsea Manning -- Atlantic Wire
Review of US surveillance programs to be led by panel of intelligence insiders -- The Guardian
NSA review panel: Insiders or 'outside experts'? -- Peter Grier, Christian Science Monitor
What You Need to Know on New Details of NSA Spying -- Wall Street Journal
Mueller leaves behind an FBI more focused on national security -- McClatchy News
Drones: Actually the Most Humane Form of Warfare Ever -- Michael Lewis, The Atlantic
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