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A Defector's Account of Syrian Chemical Weapons on the Move
(Washington Post) David Ignatius - A Syrian defector who worked inside the chemical weapons network has alleged that two senior Syrian officers moved about 100 kg. of chemical weapons materials from a secret military base in Nasiriyah in January 2012. The officers placed the chemicals in a civilian vehicle and were seen driving toward Lebanon. Two days later, two men with Lebanese accents arrived at the base and were given training in how to combine and activate the chemicals, as well as the proper safety precautions in handling them. The Syrian source also described construction of special trucks, which could transport and mix the weapons. These mobile mixers were constructed inside Mercedes or Volvo trucks that were similar to refrigerator trucks. Inside were storage tanks, pipes and a motor to drive the mixing machinery, the defector said. The Syrian chemical warfare capability may be even more dangerous than people had thought because the weapons can be moved to other locations and mixed en route. There's a significant risk of proliferation to groups such as Hizbullah, which could pose a global terrorist threat.