Are the Russians Getting Chemical Weapons From Syria?

Are the Russians Getting Chemical Weapons From Syria? By: Marshall Ramsey II, Worthy News US Correspondent July 15, 2012 DAMASCUS, Syria (Worthy News) - As has recently been reported in US and other media outlets, it appears that the nation of Syria is moving at least part of its stockpile of chemical and biological weapons from its capital of Damascus to the city of Homs, approximately 87 miles, or 140 kilometers, to the NNE.  While the fighting in Syria was initially started as a result of the 'Arab Spring,' the conflict appears to be getting more serious with the addition of Russian attack helicopters and now the transfer of Syrian chemical and biological weapons from Damascus to Homs. On Friday, July 13, US officials said that Syria has started to move part of its chemical weapons arsenal out of its storage facilities to the city of Homs.  A report issued said that they are nervous because of Syria's undeclared stockpiles of sarin nerve agent, mustard gas, and cyanide, believed to be the largest in the world.  They are divided on the meaning of the moves of the arsenal with some saying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may want to use the weapons against rebels or civilians, while others think he is trying to safeguard them (the weapons) from the opposition movement. What is interesting to note, however, is that Russian warships are moving into the Mediterranean Sea to the port of Tartus in Syria where they have a refueling station, the only one outside of Russian sovereign territory.  The city of Tartus is only about 45 minutes to 1 hour's drive from Homs. Russia and Syria haven't always been on speaking terms, but in recent years, Syria has been the recipient of Russia's favor, as has Iran, in the form of military sales and Russia's blockage in the United Nations of sanctions against these two nations for human rights abuses committed by them. While it may appear speculative, it is a possibility that Russia has brokered a deal with the Syrians to purchase chemical and/or biological weapons to help President Assad with his war campaign, not only against rebel forces in Syria, but also against Israel.  With the 'democratic' election in Egypt of Mohamed Morsi, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the recent addition of Russian attack helicopters to Syria, German tanks in Lebanon since at least 2009, and a marked uptick in the persecution of Jews around the world, it appears that Israel's enemies are getting ready to stage an attack against her. The Russian warships headed to the region include the Admiral Kutnetsov, an aircraft carrying ship, two marine carrying Black Sea Fleet landing craft: the Nikolai Filchenkov and the Tsezar Kunikov, and three Arctic Ocean marine carrying landing craft escorted by an antisubmarine ship, the Admiral Chabanenko.  The official story is that they are going there for maneuvers, and to send a message to any people and and nations supporting the Syrian opposition forces that are trying to topple President Assad's rule.  However, it may be that events in the region indicate that Israel, Russia, Syria, and a host of other nations are heading for a showdown of biblical proportions. nytimes.com, democraticunderground.com, news.sky.com, worthynews.com contributed to this report