Syrian rebels used Sarin nerve gas, not Assad’s regime: U.N. official

[Chris_]

Testimony from victims strongly suggests it was the rebels, not the Syrian government, that used Sarin nerve gas during a recent incident in the revolution-wracked nation, a senior U.N. diplomat said Monday.

Carla del Ponte, a member of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told Swiss TV there were “strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof,” that rebels seeking to oust Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad had used the nerve agent

But she said her panel had not yet seen any evidence of Syrian government forces using chemical weapons, according to the BBC, but she added that more investigation was needed.

Washington Times

[Chris_]

But lets give money to Al-Qaeda or the Muslim Brotherhood and bomb Assad's palaces anyway. 

[Dori]

I keep hearing this too, that it was the rebels.  I wouldn't put it past them either.  They knew Obama's red line was crossed and want him to do what he did in Libya.  This will probably turn out worse.

John Bolton said trying to understand Obama's foreign policy was like trying to nail jello to a wall.

[Chris_]

We have no reliable information regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria but this administration wants to run in with guns blazing anyway and from everything I've read or heard, they are on the wrong side.

It's very disturbing.

[docstew]

It fits in with the UN vehicles being shot at. The rebels wouldn't want them to find proof of their false flag op, which would give the US reason to not attack.

Really, who in the Assad regime thinks bringing the US in against them is a good idea? That would be the 3rd classical strategic blunder (The first two, of course, being engaging in a land war in Asia and betting against a Sicilian when death is on the line).

[Dori]

We have no reliable information regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria but this administration wants to run in with guns blazing anyway and from everything I've read or heard, they are on the wrong side.

It's very disturbing.

According to the group "Doctors without borders" something bad happened to those people.  But who knows what their backgrounds are.  So far it seems like Obama has been wrong on just about everything, so if you were a betting man, which side would you put your money on?

 

[thundley4]

I've seen unsubstantiated reports of Putin threatening Saudi Arabia if Assad is driven from power.

I think Obama is in way over his head, and his bravado has led him to the brink from which his ego won't let him back down.

[Chris_]

I've seen unsubstantiated reports of Putin threatening Saudi Arabia if Assad is driven from power.

I think Obama is in way over his head, and his bravado has led him to the brink from which his ego won't let him back down.

For once, I wish the useless SOB would go play golf.

[Chris_]

Attack on Syria would trigger one on Israel, Iran warns

Oh goody.  This asshole wants to start WWIII.

[Dori]

Attack on Syria would trigger one on Israel, Iran warns

Oh goody.  This asshole wants to start WWIII.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday if Israel is targeted "we will respond, and respond with force." His comments were his sternest on record.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/netanyahu-israel-respond-syrian-attack-20081212

[obumazombie]

Was this the stockpiles of WMD's shipped out of Iraq before the coalition forces could find them ? I'm not the only one asking this question. Sadly, I'm not the first either.

[Chris_]

Was this the stockpiles of WMD's shipped out of Iraq before the coalition forces could find them ? I'm not the only one asking this question. Sadly, I'm not the first either.

I'd put money on it.

[Revolution]

I'd put money on it.

And you'd win.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/us_did_find_iraq_wmd_AYiLgNbw7pDf7AZ3RO9qnM

[NHSparky]

Dear moonbat leftards:

Not so friggin easy when you've got the ball, is it you 'tards?

[Zathras]

Was this the stockpiles of WMD's shipped out of Iraq before the coalition forces could find them ? I'm not the only one asking this question. Sadly, I'm not the first either.

From what I've read and heard, the Iraqi chemical weapons were garbage and would have degraded to the point of uselessness by now.

As for who used chemical weapons in Syria, I've always thought that the rebels were more likely to use them over the Assad's forces. It doesn't make sense to me that Assad would use them as it would become a lose/lose situation for Syria with world hatred descending upon them if they did. Assad may be a ruthless dictator but he isn't stupid. The rebels, on the other hand, have many members of Al Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalists in their ranks and would love it if a chemical attack perpetrated by them would be blamed on Assad's forces. They also would have no compunction in killing innocent civilians....just look at the many terrorist actions in the past. They would consider it getting rid of more infidels or allowing them to become martyrs for Islam. As to where they would get the weapons and knowledge use them? They do control Aleppo, a rather large base for the Syrian army at the time this war started. I would imagine that there would have been a stockpile of the weapons, with manuals to use them, stored there.....hell, the rebels found a cache of 5000 Czechoslovakian made copies of the WW2 German MP44 Sturmgewehr, the grandfather of all assault rifles (would love to get my hands on one of those) in Aleppo. Also, many of the Syrian army have defected and joined the other side. I'm sure that some of those probably have the knowledge as well.

[Chris_]

Israeli intelligence first confirmed Assad regime behind alleged chemical attack

The initial confirmation that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad was responsible for a suspected chemical weapons attack Aug. 21 came from a tip from the Israeli intelligence service, western intelligence sources tell Fox News.

A special unit of the Israeli Defense Force -- an intelligence unit that goes by the number 8200, which is a military intelligence listening unit -- has been cooperating with the NSA, sources tell Fox News.

This Israeli intelligence unit helped provide the intelligence intercepts that allowed the White House last weekend to conclude that the Assad regime was behind the attack.

Fox News

[chitownchica]

Priorities...

[DefiantSix]

I've been saying for months now - since the first stories of chemical weapons use started filtering out of Syria - that if there was even the flimsiest supposition of evidence that it was the Assad government using chemical weapons instead of his butt buddies the Muslim Brotherhood "rebels" stirring the shit over there, Dear Leader would be crowing it from the White Mosque rooftop with his morning and evening prayers.

 The fact that his Regime lackies and propaganda lapdogs are still using three pounds of qualifiers with every statement they release on the subject tells me they don't have so much as an unverified shithouse rumor to that effect, and the evidence that the Islamists ARE using them is getting harder to ignore.

[chitownchica]

I didn't finish my post above.

Apparently, meeting with Trayvon's parents was more important than attending a meeting on Syria.

Way to lead Asshole.

[Dori]

Fox News

O'Reilly was just reporting on this.  This intercept was a Gen. or someone under Assad calling someone in charge of a chem depot in a panic and asking "what have you done"?  This may not have been under Assad's orders, but a deserter that had the keys.  Who knows.  I also heard today that there are as many as seven different Muslim factions in Syria that are sympathetic to al Qaeda.  

Obummer is all excited about a few hundred people being gassed, but what about the 100,000 killed before the gassing?  I don't get it. He went in and took out Gaddafi when only 2k rebels had been killed.  He doesn't know what he's doing.

 

[Ptarmigan]

I could imagine why Assad regime would not use nerve gas. That is inviting trouble. I think the rebels did it.

[thundley4]

I could imagine why Assad's regime would use nerve gas. That is inviting trouble. I think the rebels did it.

The al Qaeda backed rebels are the only ones to gain by using WMDs.

[EagleKeeper]

I've been reading about this throughout the day and this is what I think at this point.

The story Chris_ quoted is from May 6th, it's pretty dated but that doesn't really make it any less true except for the fact that it happened long before the latest suspicions.

It also seems that  the Assad regime has gained some momentum against the rebels.

Personally I think it would be a good thing if we could flip a few missiles in and remove some of that momentum and keep the killing going on as long as possible.

[DefiantSix]

I've been reading about this throughout the day and this is what I think at this point.

The story Chris_ quoted is from May 6th, it's pretty dated but that doesn't really make it any less true except for the fact that it happened long before the latest suspicions.

It also seems that  the Assad regime has gained some momentum against the rebels.

Personally I think it would be a good thing if we could flip a few missiles in and remove some of that momentum and keep the killing going on as long as possible.

Three words: Sudanese aspirin factory.

Do you honestly think O'Bumbles could select a target package that actually accomplishes something positive? (Not bloody likely, is my guess.)

[Dori]

Syria isn't just going to sit there and let it happen.  They will fight back.