Tubularsock

Chillin’ On Syria

Wow! Have you looked over the new “agreement” between the U.S., Russia, and Syria? Well, “agreement” or is a “treaty”. Nah. Really kind of like an “understanding”.

Ok. Hands up, how many have read the “document” about putting Syria’s chemical weapons under International Control and destroying those weapons.

Well, Tubularsock was just floating through the political cosmos and started thinking.

Just how could John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov (you remember Russia our forever enemy) shake hands and agree on how Syria is going to give up their EVIL chemical weapons?

But just what has to happen?

Oh my, What has to happen, indeed.

Now Syria has a shit load of chemical weapons and chemicals in general that are called “duel use” chemicals. You know. Those chemicals that can be used to save OR destroy people, among other things. 

Fun side note: Remember Reagan was responsible for selling “duel use” chemicals to Saddam INSANE. That was durning the time that Donald Rumsfeld was kissing Saddam’s ass.

Who would sell an INSANE man “duel use” chemicals and not expect him not to use them on the Kurds? Well who can think of that when you are in the Agricultural Department and there are profits to be made for the Chemical Industry.? After-all, they are part of “protecting American interests” don’t you know.

Shame about those gassed men, women, and children of the Kurds.

Remember which way the American Government looked when the Kurds were gassed?

Oh yeah, we were backing Saddam INSANE against IRAN!

That is not the time to give much thought to the Kurds, now is it.

My ……… how Tubularsock digresses ……..

Well in the overview, things look well ……… I guess it all has to do with what you remember about signing something and doing something.

Now don’t get Tubularsock wrong …….. signing rather than bombing any day BUT …..

I’m really not sure if Kerry and Lavrov, kind of, remembered that Syria was in the middle of a civil war. You know what I mean. They both arrived in limos to a huge marbled interior building in Geneva and both stayed in ….. well not Motel 8. And you know how “intensive talks” can go on for three days.

And then with dinners and drinks with separate entourages. Well you can imagine the stress.

SO LET’S TALK CHEMICAL ………

Well it’s being hyped as “ . . . the most challenging undertakings in the history of arms control”.

“Excuse me, but could I have an order of escargot as an appetizer?”

Now the chemical weapons have to be secured. Currently the storage facilities are being guarded (in theory) by Assad’s troops.

So first issue …….. who is going to put “boots on the ground” and secure these sites?

AND who is going to pay for that?

Second issue ……… who’s “boots on the ground” will Assad accept to enter his country with guns and be trusted to do only their job of guarding the facilities.

And the third issue …….. who’s “boots on the ground” once accepted will want to come into Syria and guard the chemical weapons? With both the “extremist groups” and elements within the Assad government that don’t want to give up control willingly interested in getting their hands on the weapons ….. well this isn’t going to be a cake walk for the “boots on the ground”?

“Oh yes, another bottle of that wonderful Romanée Conti, please.”

Well let’s say we have that worked out in theory. Maybe a U.N. force or the Russians?

And who are going to protect the inspector? …………. and who are going to trust the inspectors?  ………….. and who are going to pay the inspectors?

Questions, questions, questions.

Now, the logistics of disposal. 

This is extremely dangerous to pull off and who will accept to receive these weapons for disposal and who is going to pay for this process?

The destruction of these weapons will take YEARS and the chances of either human error or attack of the storage areas or during transport are very high.

And according to Harlan Ullman, a senior adviser to the Atlantic Council, “ . . . many bureaucracies will be engaged including the national security councils of the United States and Russia, the United Nations, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and among others the Syrian government. Hence, delays and administrative obstacles could be huge.” AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THE LEAST.

This disposal is going to cost into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Get your check books ready!

The German’s private sector has extensive experience in chemical weapons disposal and may be called on to handle this major task. That is still up in the air.

But remember the Obomber’s use of force is still in play and if there are delays and lack of progress this county may blow Syria apart. 

Fortunately, Geneva isn’t down wind from those exploding chemical sites.

John: “I’d just love another Mille-feuille pastry to top off our work here, Sergei.”

Sergei: “We may want to review our agreement during ski season next time, John.”

John: “Splendid idea, Sergei. I may be able to hold Barack off for a bit.”

Sergei: “Excellent………Brandy?”