Moscow says 'nyet' to U.S. demands on Syria. Conflict could doom agreement intended to keep American missiles at bay

 

The recent Syria-endorsed agreement between the United States and Russia regarding chemical weapons in Syria may be in jeopardy even before the United Nations Security Council considers it.
It seems that both sides are adding requirements.

The U.S., Britain and France insist that the resolution under consideration by the Security Council include a commitment to the use of force if Syria does not comply with strict terms under which the U.S. put off military action.

The provision, however, assumes that the Syrian government was responsible for the Aug. 21 sarin chemical weapons attack on a Syrian opposition-held area on the outskirts of Damascus.

According to various sources, as many as 1,400 people were killed, including more than 400 children.
At the time of the attack, U.N. inspectors were in Syria to investigate a prior chemical weapons attack that had occurred last March in the major Syrian city of Aleppo.

Among the casualties were 26 civilians and 15 Syrian government troops. An initial U.N. investigation suggested strong evidence pointing to Islamic foreign forces of the Syrian opposition as the source of the poison gas attack.

The Russians, who insist the Syrian government had nothing to do with the Aug. 21 sarin attack, now have presented documentation of alleged Syrian opposition use of chemical weapons. And that could thwart passage of a Security Council resolution and jeopardize the U.S.-Russia agreement itself.

Now, Russia has signaled it might veto the Security Council if the demand for military action remains in the draft resolution. China, also a permanent member of the Security Council, has signaled that it, too, will veto the resolution.

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