A message.

Editor,

"Sending a message" is passive aggressive behavior, and as such can not be relied upon to achieve the intended interpretation by the recipient of the "message."

Given that Assad senior and junior have been stockpiling chemical weapons for 30 years, one can only conclude that the younger's decision to use them now is intended to "send a message" to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States not to meddle in its internal affairs.

Assad is obviously desperate and feels his own life is on the line, so using diplomacy to ratchet down the tension is the only sensible response.

But his regional enemies and the USA are increasing the pressure instead because they "smell" weakness, which of course risks many more civilian deaths by Syrian chemical weapons.

So. The U.S. claims an attack will prevent further chemical weapons deaths, but the "message" it is preparing to send -- that will be interpreted by Assad as Assad's days are numbered -- will only provoke more.

One can only conclude that Saudi, Qatari, etc., and U.S. aims are more valuable to themselves than the civilian lives they claim to be attacking Assad to protect.

Re: "With the World Watching, Syria Amassed Nerve Gas" (9/8/2013)