Syria Weapons Inspectors Begin Work

A team of 19 United Nations weapons inspectors that has entered Syria by land from Lebanon is beginning the first stages of dismantling President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical-weapons stockpile. The process is a long, difficult slog that continues to be fraught with danger despite Assad’s cooperation. Rebels continue to bomb at random, and an attack on Tuesday hit the Four Seasons Hotel in one of the most exclusive parts of Damascus. The inspectors are working as secretly as possible, but will start by verifying the Assad government’s information on the weapons. Most Syrians believe the chemical weapons are beside the point now that 100,000 people have already died, mostly killed by conventional weapons.