The Empire Strikes Back… and it's a foul ball!
The backstory:
While the Syrian government surrendered their chemical weapon stockpiles for destruction in 2014, evidence indicates that rebel groups in Syria have ramped up their own supplies of the deadly weapons and have not hesitated to deploy them in combat. In November 2016, the New York Times acknowledged that ISIS, alone, had used chemical arms at least 52 times in Syria and Iraq.
The mercenary "rebel" groups fighting in Syria have also had access to various kinds of chemical weapons. In 2014, the United Nations acknowledged that "abandoned" sarin gas cylinders had been located in the city of Aleppo, reported left by a rebel group. Just one year ago, on April 8th, 2016, Voice of America reported that jihadist group Jaysh al-Islam used chemical weapons in attacks against Kurdish troops in Aleppo.
Investment blog, Zero Hedge, provided some of these links and assembled many others that cast doubt on US media assertions and unprovoked military violence against the sovereign nation of Syria, before investigations into the recent chemical attack was complete. The blog also weaves a striking narrative about John McCain's ongoing role in false flag attacks in Syria. The rich sourcing throughout makes this a provocative read: "Evidence Calls Western Narrative About Syrian Chemical Attack Into Question."
So, when will the sane nations finally learn who executed the recent gas attack in Syria. When will they find out which chemical agents were used?
From the beginning, I've been tracking the two prominent UN groups that are handling the investigation. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is tasked with identifying the chemical agents involved. The UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) sets out to identify the actors responsible. Neither investigation was completed before the US began its freaked-out, $70 million dollar bombing raid on an asphalt patch somewhere in the Syrian desert — killing some folks but not on purpose.
And, that brings us to the present.
Since Syria's chemical weapons were destroyed in 2014, these UN organizations have investigated nine of the small-scale gas attacks reported in Syria. Four have been verified as chemical weapons. Blame has gone to the Syrian Armed Forces for several attacks and to ISIL for another. The Syrian army has denied that undersized chemical cannisters were among the bombs they drop. ISIL is reported to have an active chemical weapons operation in Syria. Chlorine or mustard gas are the most common poisons identified, a nerve agent like sarin is more uncommon. This latest attack was much larger than all the rest investigated by OPCW. The system of delivery has not yet been announced.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons convention entered into force in 1997. With 192 countries obligating themselves [by treaty] to the CWC, they have eliminated an entire class of weapons of mass destruction. To date, over 93 percent of all chemical weapon stockpiles declared by possessor states have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Prize for Peace.
Concurrently with the OPCW, the Joint Investigative Mechanism [JIM] springs into action to determine who was responsible for the attack. This second investigative group was mandated by the UN Security Council in response to persistent allegations of chemical weapon attacks in Syria after 2013. JIM investigates and profiles, to the greatest extent feasible, those involved when chemical weapons are used. This is especially important for non-state or covert actors, which is increasingly the case in gas attacks. The Joint Investigative Mechanism operates as an independent, impartial, and objective body, and is led by a three-member Panel who report directly to the Security Council.
In a matter of days, their reports will be issued. If it turns out to be a non-state actor, that's bad news for the US. It foretells time of reckoning as scores are eventually settled at home. If it was a state-sponsored attack by Syria, however, then an effective response can be strategized through global consensus — instead of just doing stupid shit (as Obama would say).
Direct diplomatic negotiation seems to terrify the US Neocons, possibly because they are so awful at it. (Think John Bolton.) But if an organization like OPCW can negotiate the destruction of 93 percent of the world's declared chemical weapon stockpiles in under 20 years, surely the US can pull itself together and give civilization a try.
Comments
Sarin gas use by Assad would be counterproductive
extremely counterproductive. First of all, Assad, unlike the American establishment/Deep State does learn from history. He saw that the sarin gas attack attributed to Syria in 2013 (a totally discredited claim) led to Obama/Hillary intervention. Even though he was guilty of murdering opponents, the odds are quite likely that he has never dared to use gas since.
In 1994, the valorous John Kerry said that 100% of chemical agents had been removed from Syria. So where did this new batch come from? Secret factories buried under the sand? Peenemude-like hardened and hidden factories? What would Assad have to gain by using sarin for such an impotent attack which, even if he did use the gas, would inflict minimal numbers of ISIS fighters. After all, he, with Putin's help, had been steadily repulsing these mercenaries (aka moderate rebels). Why would he jeopardize this? You think Putin wouldn't have talked him out of this even if Assad were so inclined as to pursue this irrational, counterproductive act?
This whole things reeks--not of sarin--but of SHIT. Look how the MSM is applauding former arch-villain Donald J. Trump. Farad Zakariah (that toady turd for the NWO) praised Trump for "acting Presidential". You know it's a political kiss of death when Chuckles Schumer approves of your actions.
In two prior essays I have given opinions as to why this happened. I hope I am not wrong. But the answer to the question "why would Assad use gas?" will reveal the true deception of this "false flag" planted by the NWO/Neocons on their way to world
contaminationdomination.Would that were true!
Would that were true!
Unfortunately, it isn't. Senator Schumer (D-Wall Street) still wields considerable power.
The parallels with a toddler armed with a Browning Automatic Rifle are many -- and frightening in the extreme!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I suppose as you do, that Trump's display
was probably for show, and does not indicate an intention to substantially attack Assad's coalition. But Russia's response (entirely justified IMO) of cancelling de-confliction protocols certainly increases the danger of accidentally touching off a wider war.
Nikki Haley's idiotic ranting and raving at the UN is not at all helpful either. We are treading far too close to a hot war with Russia, for anyone to be complacent about the situation.
native
I don't think it was sarin
There would have been more death and the aid workers would have been affected by just touching the victims.
I like Wilkerson and his take.
Former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, tells Paul Jay that the Syrian Government may not be responsible for the chemical attack and that Trump's response was a violation of international law (18 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah14yOHWrGY
Thanks PR for your thoughtful essay.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Survivors describe chlorine.
They tell of a strong bleach-like odor and a yellowish tinge to the gas. Sarin is odorless and colorless. Even the White Helmets described what could only be chlorine.
The Syrian/Russian claim that it was an ISIS chemical weapons factory and the gas release was inadvertent makes far more sense than the MSM/US claim. Assad had a lot to lose, especially as the attack was timed for the first day of the latest round of peace talks.
Take note of what Wilkerson says at the end
The US needs to disentangle the 900 pound gorilla that has had America in a choke hold for over 4 decades. As long as Israel can continue to pull the strings of power in Washington, there will be no peace in the Middle East until the sun sets on American Imperialism and/or Israel expires in the rubble of its own making.
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&I...
I would add the Saudi Arabian government
to the list of countries with a stranglehold over the US.
There seems to be a sort of three-way
mutual-aid cabal, that drives much of US foreign policy -- or at the very least, unduly influences it. Goes back a long way too. If Wilkerson is right, it's about to blow up in their faces... but I'm not so sure about that.
native
Wilkerson is absolutely right, in his naming
key members of this neocon crew-from-hell. But he didn't answer Paul Jay's question of how much influence they might wield, within Trump's administration. Perhaps he doesn't know.
native
Neocon name nitpick: Bill “Crystal” —> Kristol n/t
Holy cannoli.
This is one of the most remarkable things I've read since 9/11:
Thank you for posting this interview link!
Hi pluto
When they find out which chemicals were used by whom, will they also find out who gave the chemicals to them?
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Their forensics use a lot more political analysis
…than I would like to see. But samples of the agent can reveal a great deal. It was a really large and concentrated exposure in an attack on infrastructure, not people, so it makes no tactical sense.
Just to norm the occurrence, I followed the moment by moment action for a full daylight day, and there were two suspected chemical weapon explosions, small-scale. No news coverage, no pictures of babies.
The ZeroHedge piece I linked to has more on this type of evidence. But yes, they will suggest where they think it came from.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
OPCW, huh? You and Maria
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=419lQljnS-0]
She makes so much sense...and handily deconstructed the entire narrative in about 8 minutes. But I've undoubtedly succumbed to become a stooge in their nefarious plot to seek truth. I hear that also happened to Tulsi recently.