No U.S. Troops Will Be Sent To Syria To Secure Chemical Weapons If The Assad Regime Falls

Panetta: No U.S. Troops In Syria If Chemical Weapons Used -- Washington Times

No U.S. ground troops will be sent to Syria to secure chemical weapons if the Syrian regime falls, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Thursday in the Defense Department’s most detailed public comments to date on planning for Syria.

“We’re not working on options that involve boots on the ground,” Mr. Panetta said at a Pentagon briefing. “I think you always have to keep the possibility that, if there is a peaceful transition and international organizations get involved, that they might ask for assistance in that situation. But in a hostile situation, we’re not planning for that.”

He said the greater challenge is deciding what steps the international community can take to ensure those weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.

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More News On U.S. Concerns On Syria's Chemical Weapon Stockpiles

Panetta: US troops could help secure Syrian chemical weapons in peaceful situation -- Washington Post/AP
Pentagon weighs how to secure Syria's chemical weapons -- CNN
Top U.S. General Says Stopping a Syrian Chemical Attack Is ‘Almost Unachievable’ -- Danger Room
Report: Syrian Chemical Weapons Ready -- Military.com/UPI
In Syria, chemical weapons - and talks - are off the table -- Haaretz

My Comment: If the U.S. will not be the ones who will secure Syria's chemical stockpiles if the Assad regime falls .... who will? Another unanswered question from the Pentagon/White House.