West arming Syrian rebels who eat human flesh,Vladimir Putin says

[MADem]

56. They haven't killed that many people, according to reports.

I mean, from a humanitarian POV, one is too many, but we're talking a hundred or two, not thousands.

I never thought al Assad would be so stupid as to invite Iran in to help him fight his little war, either, but he's not Hafiz, that's for certain.

Saddam's use of chemical weapons against the Kurds was more of a demonstration of principle; to see if it could be done. We don't know if that's what Government of Syria is doing as well.

That region doesn't worry too much about the Geneva Conventions, and standards are different. Kidnapping is considered merciful and preferable to outright murder; it's often seen as a way to persuade someone to your POV. Chemical weapons are seen as an ace in the hole, otherwise governments wouldn't continue to stockpile them. And Syria by all accounts has plenty:

http://www.channel4.com/news/syria-chemical-weapons-damascus-assad-interactive-files

The only question remaining is have they used them in this most recent imbroglio, or are they, instead, creating a climate of fear by using tear gas or something that causes distress but is less lethal, instead?