Former U.N. Inspector: Syria Plan 'Optimistic,' Requires Troops
The U.S.-Russian plan to rid Syria of chemical weapons by next summer faces many hurdles and includes "unrealistic" deadlines, says former U.N. weapons inspector David Kay, who has previously worked on efforts to detail chemical weapons in Iraq.
Kay also says the plan will require an international military presence — "boots on the ground" — to make sure the weapons don't fall into the wrong hands.
The deal on Syria, which Secretary of State John Kerry announced along with his Russian counterpart on Saturday, calls for weapons inspectors to complete an initial review of Syria's chemical weapons storage sites by November; all stockpiled material and equipment is to be destroyed by June of 2014.
"It's extremely optimistic," Kay tells NPR's Steve Inskeep on Monday's Morning Edition. "It's an aggressive timeline. It's aspirational, in terms of what you would like to happen."