Any American strike on Syria due to the use by the Assad forces of chemical weapons will most likely not take place until at least two weeks from now. That means that it will be nearly a month from the time that the USA began talking about striking Syria and the actual strike taking place.
So what has happened during that month? According to a recent Reuters report, the answer to that question is "a great deal!" Reuters is reporting that informed sources tell it that the Assad troops have packed soldiers whose loyalties have been questioned into locations adjacent to the regimes most important weapons systems. Simply put, if the USA attacks Assad's missiles or air defenses, it will kill hundreds or thousands of soldiers who are believed to be supporters of the rebels. An American strike will execute enormous numbers of Assad's opponents. That would be a big positive for Assad. He could lament the loss of hundreds or thousands of individuals to American attacks, all the while enjoying the benefit from ridding himself of so many enemies. Other news media are reporting that the Assad forces have put their most vulnerable weapons inside schools, mosques, hospitals and similar structures. Any attack to take out these weapons will also kill hundreds of civilians which will give Assad even more propaganda footage to use against the USA.
Had Obama started to prepare the ground a year ago when he set forth his red line, the counterattack could have come in hours rather than months. Assad would have been caught flat footed and his losses would be much more sever.
So what has happened during that month? According to a recent Reuters report, the answer to that question is "a great deal!" Reuters is reporting that informed sources tell it that the Assad troops have packed soldiers whose loyalties have been questioned into locations adjacent to the regimes most important weapons systems. Simply put, if the USA attacks Assad's missiles or air defenses, it will kill hundreds or thousands of soldiers who are believed to be supporters of the rebels. An American strike will execute enormous numbers of Assad's opponents. That would be a big positive for Assad. He could lament the loss of hundreds or thousands of individuals to American attacks, all the while enjoying the benefit from ridding himself of so many enemies. Other news media are reporting that the Assad forces have put their most vulnerable weapons inside schools, mosques, hospitals and similar structures. Any attack to take out these weapons will also kill hundreds of civilians which will give Assad even more propaganda footage to use against the USA.
Had Obama started to prepare the ground a year ago when he set forth his red line, the counterattack could have come in hours rather than months. Assad would have been caught flat footed and his losses would be much more sever.
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