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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Damascus authorizes military control of pharmaceutical plants |
| 2004-09-09 |
| From Geostrategy-Direct, subscription req'd... Syria's military has been granted control of the state-owned pharmaceutical industry in what could signal a new step in the nation's chemical and biological weapons program. Syria is begging for a wack. Western diplomatic sources said Syria's military has been authorized to supervise activities in state-owned pharmaceutical plants. They said these plants were conducting research in a range of areas with applications for weapons of mass destruction. No other reason for the military to take over pharmaceutical plants except for CW or WMD. The U.S. intelligence community has determined that Syria has the largest CW program in the Middle East. Syria has also been operating a BW research program. We lost momentum on Syria after defeating Saddam this year. Powell did the good cop thing. That did not work. Sooooo, checking the playbook .............. here........means that we really only have the bad cop play left. On Aug. 21, Syrian Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani presided over a ceremony to open a new line of serums in the Dimas Pharmaceutical Plant. Deputy Defense Minister Ahmed Abdel Ghani and senior generals accompanied Turkmani, who is deputy commander of the army and armed forces. The Syrian news agency, Sana, reported that Turkmani and his delegation toured the plant and were briefed on the new line of serums. The agency did not provide details of the serums but said they would be procured by the military. "Turkmani was also briefed in detail on the services which the serums line will offer to the armed forces and to the citizens," Sana said. Antidotes for nasty things they make? "Turkmani asserted the necessity of doubling and promoting action to make use of this new scientific achievement which has been realized in the framework of the modernization and development process led by President Bashar Assad." The move to increase the military's control over the pharmaceutical industry comes as Syria has come under international pressure to dismantle its WMD program. The European Union has refused to ratify a trade agreement with Damascus until it issues such a pledge. Looks like Syria needs to make a pledge to pacify the EUniks. If the EUniks do not have on-site inspection clauses in their agreement, the Syrians are home free. Lying to infidels is no big deal. Syria is becoming the hornets nest for baddies, due to their cozy relationship with the Mad Mullahs of Iran. Maybe Syria needs to be dealt with first to further isolate Iran. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #10 I share your concerns about timing, but the Israelis are realists (under Sharon) and will not allow the use of CBW by the Syrians, guaranteed. By any means possible, this will not happen |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-09-09 10:09:57 PM |
| #9 Thanksgiving may be too late. The production cycle for biological warfare agents is incredibly shorter than for nuclear devices. Think of how long it takes to brew beer. By Thanksgiving these sites could have churned out enough anthrax or botulinum to attack millions and poison untold thousands of people. At some point, maybe after another half-dozen Beslans, the diplomatic prinking about is going to cease and there will be direct international repercussions for overt WMD buildups by terrorist sponsors. If Iran has not demonstrated this with the utmost clarity, we are all lost. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-09-09 9:54:45 PM |
| #8 Maybe by Thanksgiving. Something tells me Sharon is not one of the foreign leaders endorsing Kerry. He'll be a good fellow till after the returns are final. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-09-09 9:41:52 PM |
| #7 I do not see why Israel should even blanch at going in and bombing the crap out of these sites. Syria has in as much admitted that they are going the bio-chem weapons route. Israel will be their first point-of-use, by proxy through Hamas. Don't wait for the fatalities to mount up, saddle up and bounce the rubble for good measure. Give them what they deserve. It would only be fitting after the recent charade of Lebanon's |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-09-09 9:34:29 PM |
| #6 Frank---I imagine that we all have Lat-Long for Syrian installations. The question is what do we and/or the Israelis need to do and when. This Syria and Iran thing is getting to a head, and the EUniks will puff but will sit on the sidelines, grandstand, let us do the heavy lifting, and criticize our performance. We should be working together, but we are where we are. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-09-09 9:13:35 PM |
| #5 hmmmm. Maybe someone should warn the Jooooos? I bet they already have the GPS coords |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-09-09 8:58:38 PM |
| #4 Gotta big order for the Christmas season from Wal-Mart. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-09-09 8:52:55 PM |
| #3 Just coincidence. Syria working hard on CBW and Iran working double time on nuclear. Just coincidence......right Mr. Kerry? |
| Posted by: john 2004-09-09 8:46:33 PM |
| #2 The good thing about an invasion of Syria is that there is nowhere left to evacuate the WMD to. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-09-09 8:37:31 PM |
| #1 What chemical weapons are for- To wage a holy war! Baby Assad has said that Ricin's sacred! |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-09-09 4:09:24 PM |