Syrian Motives for its WMD Programs and What to do About Them

Abstract

Syria's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), or more specifically chemical weapons, developed as a direct response to its military rivalry with Israel, which possesses nuclear arms. Syria's weapons programs were not developed in order to achieve status or to intimidate its neighbors, but rather within the context of the arms race with Israel. The article argues that a more effective means of removing WMD from Syria's arsenal than US sanctions would be to find a way to make progress in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.