Putin aide says British vote reflects dangers of Syria strike

Washington: You simply cant safely bomb a chemical weapon storehouse into oblivion,experts say. Thats why the US is probably targeting something other than Syrias nerve agents. But now there is concern that bombing other sites could accidentally release dangerous chemical weapons as the US military lost track of some of the suspected nerve agents. Bombing stockpiles of chemical weapons would likely kill nearby civilians in an accidental nerve agent release,create a long-lasting environmental catastrophe or both,five experts said. ap

Models for possible intervention

Iraq,1991

US-led global military coalition; explicit mandate from UN Security Council to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait

Balkans,1990s

US arms supplied to anti-Serb resistance in defiance of UN-mandated embargo; later US-led air campaign against Serb paramilitaries.

Somalia,1992-93

UN authorised international force for humanitarian reasons; US military involvement culminated in disaster and pullout.

Libya,2011

France and UK sought UN authorisation for humanitarian operation; air offensive continued until fall of Gaddafi.