Syria: Drop medicines, not bombs

[Agnosticsherbet]

THE horrors of the Iran-Iraq war, in which tens of thousands were killed by chemical weapons, leave no doubt of the danger Syrians face from further atrocities like last week's in Damascus.

Now that the line has almost certainly been crossed, further attacks seem likely. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime is thought to be holding stockpiles of the nerve agent sarin, and clearly there is willingness (from whichever side) to use it.

If, as also seems likely, the West decides to intervene, what action should it take? It is highly improbable that the threat can be reduced by bombing the stockpiles (see "Wind and rockets key clues in Syrian chemical puzzle" and "Iraq offers grim lessons for Syrian gas survivors&quot . Giving people the means to protect themselves is much better.

Iranian toxicologists who studied the victims of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s found that administering antidotes to nerve agents – mainly atropine and pralidoxime injected into muscle – in the hours and days after a sarin attack can save lives and reduce the chances of chronic symptoms in survivors. Even cheap alternatives such as sodium bicarbonate and magnesium sulphate can help.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21929321.500-syria-drop-medicines-not-bombs.html#.Uh6Uj6nn-Ah

After all the arguing and fighting, I see something that I support. I do hope that someone who reads this has the ear of the President, the Department of Defense, or someone in power. Whether you believe we should support strikes or stay out of the situation, delivering supplies that will save people's lives should be acceptable.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. It only takes a couple of Janes Bonds to remove Assad from power

what's with all these costly missiles?

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. Humor aside, this is about dropping medicines to treat Chemical Weapons exposure

and saving lives.

As to James Bond, he is a fictional character. Matt Helm, being an American formerly played by Dean Martin in full Martini flair would be used, if we could somehow pull him out of the books, which I haven't read since I was a teen.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. the problem is Assad he needs to go

[Little Star]

2. Hows that suppose to make anyone money?..........

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. That brings in the big Pharmaceuticals, who make those drugs.

Why should only weapons makers get to cash in.

[JI7]

3. we already send medicine and other non military aid

[Agnosticsherbet]

6. Apparantly we are not sending the right medicines.

There are very specific drugs used to treat chemical weapons exposure and they work best if placed in the hands of those exposed.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

8. There is so much that can be sent/dropped which would be helpful

If nothing else food. Maybe pertinent passages of Qurʼan to peace and respect for fellow man. As well as any number of philosophical words of wisdom. Anything but bombs.