Syria’s Assad Cornered and Considering Using Chemical Weapons?

Chemical Weapons Canisters

Syria and its chemical weapons are again in the news. The Telegraph from the UK has the following headline:

Is Bashar al-Assad, cornered and frightened, considering using chemical weapons against the Syrian people?

4 December 2012

The simple answer is likely yes. But I suspect that he has an even bolder plan. If President Assad uses chemical weapons against his own people, he realizes that he risks direct military intervention from the West. He is certainly aware that the indirect military and political support his opposition has already received from the West is currently weakening his regime. Plus he knows what happened to Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein when the West/USA decided those leaders went too far. Thus, while he may feel cornered, he is likely considering many options.

Here are some other news reports:

Syrian threat widens

December 4, 2012

The festering wound that is now Syria’s Assad regime has become a danger not simply to the people of Syria but to the entire region. And the U.S. is doing what exactly about it?

Yesterday the United Nations announced it was removing all nonessential personnel from Syria — the situation has become so dangerous…the existence of chemical weapons in Syria represent a threat to Turkey and to Israel as well. Both nations are concerned that even in the aftermath of an Assad defeat the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/editorials/view/20221204syrian_threat_widens/

Syrian Civilians Better Hope They Die in the Right Way

Dec 4, 2012

The United States has drawn stark lines between acceptable and unacceptable kinds of warfare — and created a double standard in the process.

The United States announced that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government would be a “red line,” potentially triggering intervention. The White House fears that “an increasingly beleaguered regime” may be plotting a chemical attack. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added: “We are certainly planning to take action if that eventuality were to occur.” Oddly, the international community seems less concerned by how many people the Syrian regime kills than by the methods it uses to kill them. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/12/syrian-civilians-better-hope-they-die-in-the-right-way/265848/

US warns Damascus as NATO mulls missiles for Turkey

December 3, 2012

BRUSSELS: NATO foreign ministers were set on Tuesday to approve Turkey’s request for Patriot missiles to counter any threats from neighboring Syria after the United States issued a blunt warning to Damascusagainst the use of chemical weapons.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Dec-03/197036-official-syria-moving-chemical-weapons-components.ashx#ixzz2E5urNnEq

U.S. warns Syria regime against using Chemical Weapons

4 Dec 2012

United States- US President Barack Obama warned President Assad against using chemical weapons. “The world is watching,” Obama said on Monday.

“The use of chemical weapons is and would be totally unacceptable and if you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons there will be consequences and you will be held accountable.” Obama said…

Syria on Monday denied it planned to use its chemical weapons stockpile, after reports that the US had observed officials moving some components of the program. “Syria has stressed repeatedly that it will not use these types of weapons, if they were available, under any circumstances against its people,” the foreign ministry said. http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=135905

Syria’s Assad remains a close ally to Iran. If Iran also feels cornered (it is under economic sanctions, as is Syria, and may face attack related to its nuclear ambitions), the two of them may decide that either provoking an attack from Israel and/or attacking Israel first may get them a bit less cornered as they have tended to hope that at least parts of the Islamic world would support them. Iran has gone so far as to send out a video showing it taking over Jerusalem, which it suggests will cause Muslims from other lands to support Iran, and lead to the formal appearance of an Islamic leader known as the Imam Mahdi (details, as well as a link to that video, are in the article Iran’s Ahmadinejad to Conquer Jerusalem?).

Iran itself has taken steps that may provoke a regional (with Israel) or larger war (the USA itself could sustain damage). What may happen is a regional or even the current civil war in Syria, that somewhat gets out of control and may involve others (including many based in Lebanon) beyond Iran and Israel, may happen and could be a factor that ultimately leads to the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27 (which seems to be a peace deal).

Syria has admitted having both chemical and biological weapons, but has stated that the chemical weapons would not be used against Syrian citizens, but would only be used in response to an outside attack (Syrian Official Acknowledges Having Chemical Weapons and Declares Syria Will Use Them If Attacked). President Assad’s regime has, thus, told the world in general, and Israel more specifically, that to attack Syria would have a very high cost.

Iran and Syria do not have enough military power to win an actual war with the USA if such a war were to happen (though it could damage the USA and also have its surrogates cause damage). It could, however, severely damage Israel, and since Israel knows that, it may decide it has to hit Iran and/or Syria quite hard if attacked. (But if Iran was able to set off some type of EMP, electromagnetic pulse, bomb or nuclear device in the USA, or Syria release biological weapons, etc. they could cause some real damage.)

Various Western analysts are convinced that if there is a war of some type between Iran and Israel that Iran(as well as likely Syria) will try to strike at what it perceives to be US targets/allies, both within the USA and outside of it. Specifically, perhaps in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, elsewhere, and/or within the USA itself through various “cells” (possibly also involving al Qaeda). This may well happen, but if so, Iran and/or Syria will likely find they has overestimated their power and underestimated what Israel and/or the USA may do in retaliation.

Of course, the Bible shows that Syria’s capital city Damascus (Isaiah 7:8) will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). Whether this will happen because of internal civil war and/or an attack involving Israel and/or the West remains to be seen. The use (or even the threat) of chemical weapons by Syria could be a major factor in Damascus being destroyed.

The Bible teaches Damascus has to be destroyed, and probably relatively soon.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? Is there a needed peace deal first in the Middle East? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon’s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition.)