Publication

This brief examines the effect the announcement of a chemical weapons disarmament program in Syria has had on the different parties involved in the country's conflict. The authors contend that the program has increased President Assad's legitimacy and reduced that of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. They also argue that the Assad regime will seek to create the appearance that it is helping implement the process, but that in practice it will attempt to conceal its capabilities. Therefore, they suggest Israel and the US plan for a scenario in which the disarmament process fails.