Government Information

http://www.opcw.org/news/article/syria-completes-destruction-activities-to-render-inoperable-chemical-weapons-production-facilities-a/

Press release on the completion of the work of inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

http://www.un.org/disarmament/content/slideshow/Secretary_General_Report_of_CW_Investigation.pdf

Finds clear and convincing evidence that chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale resulting in numerous casualties particularly among civilians and including children.  From the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/10/remarks-president-address-nation-syria

Text of President Obama’s address on the situation in Syria and the possibility of U.S. military retaliation.  From the White House

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R43201.pdf

Reviews the issues related to possible military intervention including use of chemical weapons, efficacy of limited military action, international response, and war powers matters.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R42848.pdf

Describes what is known about the Syrian government’s involvement with chemical weapons and courses of action that Congress might choose.  Also covers biological weapons and the concerns about chemical  weapons security.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R42848.pdf

Reviews the history of the chemical weapons program in Syria and what is known about the current program and its security arrangements.  Also covers possible U.S. courses of action.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2012/index.htm

Provides the country’s annual assessment of trends and events in international terrorism that occurred during 2012, including country-by-country analyses of counterterrorism efforts and sections on state-sponsored terrorism, terrorist safe havens, and foreign terrorist organizations.  From the State Department.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R42862.pdf

Discusses types of chemical agents, protection against chemical agents, how to detect their presence, and chemical agents as weapons of terror rather than weapons of mass destruction.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists