Syria's Chemical Intransigence

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's contemptuous failure to meet another key deadline for the dismantling of his chemical weapons arsenal is a reminder of the imperative for the international community to be uncompromising in the pressure it exerts on him to fulfil his obligations. Clearly, as US President Barack Obama's top intelligence official, James Clapper, has told a congressional committee, Assad feels his hold on power has been significantly strengthened as a result of the chemical weapons agreement brokered by Russia, which has obviated any immediate threat of US cruise missile strikes being launched. He must not be allowed to prevaricate over implementation of an agreement critical to what hopes there are of finding a solution to one of modern history's most horrifying conflicts.