Assad thinks he has instilled fear among the rebels

[LoganIsAwesome]

[QUOTE](Reuters) - Syria's government hailed as a "victory" a Russian-brokered deal that has averted U.S. strikes, while President Barack Obama defended a chemical weapons pact that the rebels fear has bolstered their enemy in the civil war.

President Bashar al-Assad's jets and artillery hit rebel suburbs of the capital again on Sunday in an offensive that residents said began last week when Obama delayed air strikes in the face of opposition from Moscow and his own electorate.

Speaking of the U.S.-Russian deal, Syrian minister Ali Haidar told Moscow's RIA news agency: "These agreements ... are a victory for Syria, achieved thanks to our Russian friends."

Though not close to Assad, Ali was the first Syrian official to react to Saturday's accord in Geneva by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Bridging an angry East-West rift over Syria, they agreed to back a nine-month U.N. program to destroy Assad's chemical arsenal.

The deal has put off the threat of air strikes Obama made after poison gas killed hundreds of Syrians on August 21, although he has stressed that force remains an option if Assad reneges. U.S. forces remain in position. Russia still opposes military action but now backs possible U.N. sanctions for non-compliance.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/15/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE98A15720130915[/url]

[EmperorScorpious]

Yes it's a diplomatic victory for Assad but I don't see how that really inspires fear. I would think using the gas instead of giving it away would do that.

[spaceghost]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;42205833]Yes it's a diplomatic victory for Assad but I don't see how that really inspires fear. I would think using the gas instead of giving it away would do that.[/QUOTE]

If anything more of his military will defect and more civilians will want to get revenge.

[SaltyWaters]

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;42206326]If anything more of his military will defect and more civilians will want to get revenge.[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure you understand how many people the FSA are killing right now.

[Comfy]

"These agreements ... are a victory for Syria, achieved thanks to our Russian friends."

"What do you mean the civil war is still going on? I mean we won!"

[Pseudonym]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;42205833]Yes it's a diplomatic victory for Assad but I don't see how that really inspires fear. I would think using the gas instead of giving it away would do that.[/QUOTE]

I suppose you could say that any rebel who became hopeful over the possibility of US intervention just had those hopes crushed, leading to a possible morale drop within that particular group of people (though I don't know how large that group is). Fear and crushed hopes aren't exactly the same thing but they both effect an army negatively so whatever you want to call it it's still good for Assad.

[spaceghost]

[QUOTE=SaltyWaters;42210402]I'm not sure you understand how many people the FSA are killing right now.[/QUOTE]

Could say the same thing about their government forces, shelling and cluster bombing population centers.

[Midas22]

So uh... Why hasn't he been charged for having chemical weapons, regardless of if he used them or not? Surely having them is a crime...

[Col. Buggernuts]

[QUOTE=Midas22;42211878]So uh... Why hasn't he been charged for having chemical weapons, regardless of if he used them or not? Surely having them is a crime...[/QUOTE]It's not a crime to possess them until one signs the appropriate treaty. International law is defined by the treaties signed between nations and organizations like the UN.
Syria is in the process of becoming a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention.