West weighs options; Syria calls any plans of attack "delusional"

They were pictures that shocked the world-- the aftermath of a reported chemical attack in Syria.

Now US sources say the response could come within days.

Syrian Foreign minister Walid Maualem dismisses such talk.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, WALID MOUALEM, SAYING:

"There is no analytical logic that says a strike will happen. I doubt that a country like the United States would do this as a service to the al-Nusra front in Syria. Otherwise all their culture and counter-terrorism claims since September 11 and even before then until now will crash."

He says Western leaders are "delusional" if they think action will help rebels reach a balance of power in Syria.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, WALID MOUALEM, SAYING:

"We will remain firm and that is why re-establishing balance is delusional and not possible at all."

London-based military analyst Malcolm Chambers of the Royal United Services Institute says the Wes