Depending on the quantity of chemical weapons and the weapon used then if it can contaminate land for many years and water sources as well. This is one thing Israel actually has to worry about because if Assad were to use a chemical weapon even if nobody was killed directly because of the countries small size the majority of the countries food and water supplies could become contaminated which would devastate the economy, put farmers out of business, we would have to import most our food and water needs for years and years to come and the problem is you cannot give the gas mask to the land and rivers.

It is sad and unfortunate, but number one is absolutely correct. Intervention by the West will take hours not days or weeks or months. Nevertheless, Assad's criminal gangs, though they relinquished their security and identity papers, cannot hide from the Syrian people. One by one, they will be identified as those who supported and performed torture on the Syrian people. One by one they will be found guilty by a court of law. Some will find many years of imprisonment, some will be executed. They cannot hide from the people of Syria.

Very moving and depressing the whole thing.