[Terry Mross]

I still be don’t understand that if chemical weapons were stored there why didn’t we know that. Supposedly our intelligence on the ground knows all.

And if chemicals were stored there why didn’t at least some if it get loose when our bombs hit them?

Finally, if that’s where Assad’s airplanes were loaded with chemicals and we destroyed all of them then there should be no sense in warning him not to do it again. He REALLY doesn’t have anymore now.

[Delta 21]

Susan Rice, of the Obama administration passed a report in January(?) that said ALL chemical weapons were gone from Syria.

[xone]

And if chemicals were stored there why didn’t at least some if it get loose when our bombs hit them?

Because we didn't hit those targets.

[publius911]

Supposedly our intelligence on the ground knows all.

Keep your day job.
All your observations seem juvenile.
How old are you?

[Paul R.]

Good Lord, where do I start? (Again.)

Syria’s chemical weapons would not all be at one site, and if we knew where all were, we could have embarrassed the Russki’s into making Assad turn them over, for destruction (that was part of the deal back in 2013, if I recall the year correctly).

No way WE know where all chem weapons might be. That’s part of the problem. Given the people on the ground, our intelligence in a loosely or rebel controlled area might be pretty good. Areas under firm control of Assad or the Russians would likely be much tougher.

Go research Sarin. (The Russians are counting on ignorance.) It breaks down fairly quickly, so to stockpile it, it is commonly kept as two “precursor” chemicals, that are more stable. These are sometimes mixed in the warhead on its way to the target, or sometimes mixed just before firing / launching. Blowing up the warhead prematurely causes a poor mix with relatively little effective Sarin released. It’s somewhat like blowing up a cup each of “A” and “B” component epoxy, sitting side by side, with a grenade — good luck on getting much good adhesive out of that.

The intent was not to blow up any chem weapons, anyway. We want to force the Syrians and Russkies to honor the deal where Assad turned over all the chem weapons for Russia to destroy, and Russia makes sure any more that turn up get the same treatment.