U.S. Discusses Troops in Syria

If—or when—Bashar al-Assad’s regime finally topples, the U.S. and its allies are considering sending forces in to protect the sites of biological and chemical weaponry that could fall into dangerous hands. This could take tens of thousands of ground troops to properly secure the areas against pillaging. “There is not a imminent plan to deploy ground forces. This is, in fact, a worst-case scenario,” an anonymous U.S. official told Reuters Thursday. Other diplomatic sources said as many as 50,000 troops might be needed to guard possibly dozens of chemical stockpiles and weapons sites across the country.