{"id":80140,"date":"2013-09-19T08:03:48","date_gmt":"2013-09-19T08:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=80140"},"modified":"2013-09-21T06:12:52","modified_gmt":"2013-09-21T06:12:52","slug":"syria-gas-attack-assad-wrongfully-blamed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=80140","title":{"rendered":"Syria Gas Attack: Assad Wrongfully Blamed"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Stephen Lendman — Veterans Today Sept 18, 2013<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>On Monday, UN inspectors released their eagerly awaited report. Security Council members were briefed in closed session. <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

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On Tuesday, the report was published online. It\u2019s titled \u201cReport on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta Area of Damascus on 21 <\/strong><\/span>August 2013<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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On September 16, the UN News <\/span><\/strong><\/span>Centre<\/strong><\/span> <\/a>headlined \u201d \u2018Clear and convincing\u2019 evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria, UN team reports.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom headed the UN team. It\u2019s called the Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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On March 21, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established it. World Health Organization (WHO) and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) experts were involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Evidence confirmed sarin gas use. Ban called its Ghouta investigation findings \u201coverwhelming and indisputable. The facts speak for themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe United Nations Mission has now confirmed, unequivocally and objectively, that chemical weapons have been used in Syria.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThere must be accountability for the use of chemical weapons. Any use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, is a crime.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBut our message today must be more than that: Do not slaughter your people with gas. There must also be no impunity for the crimes being committed with conventional weapons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is a war crime. The international community has a responsibility to hold the perpetrators accountable and to ensure that chemical weapons never re-emerge as an instrument of warfare.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sellstrom\u2019s team was mandated to determine if chemical weapons were used. \u201cIt is for others to decide whether to pursue this matter further to determine responsibility,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe may all have our own thoughts on this, but I would simply say that this was a grave crime and those responsible must be brought to justice as soon as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Evidence examined came from biomedical hair, urine and blood samples. Soil and environmental samples were analyzed. So were alleged munitions and impact sites.<\/span><\/p>\n

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More than 50 \u201csurvivors, medical personnel and first responders\u201d were interviewed. It\u2019s unclear how they were chosen. Lack of clarity raises concerns. Objectivity may have been compromised.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Since conflict erupted in March 2011, Syria repeatedly has been wrongfully blamed for insurgents\u2019 crimes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The so-called UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry (COI) consistently lies for power. Its reports lack credibility. They largely point fingers one way. They do so duplicitously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They ignore clear evidence of insurgents use of chemical weapons. They\u2019re silent about numerous massacres they committed. They wrongfully blame Assad.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Clear evidence showed insurgents responsible for Ghouta\u2019s attack. Nothing links Syrian forces. Previous articles explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the Security Council\u2019s closed briefing, Britain\u2019s UN envoy Mark Lyall Grant lied saying:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

\u201c(I)n our view, there is no remaining doubt that it was the (Syrian) regime that used chemical weapons\u201d in Ghouta.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Washington\u2019s UN ambassador <\/span>Samantha <\/span>Power<\/span><\/a> issued a lengthy duplicitous statement. She lied saying<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c(T)he technical details of the UN report make clear that only the regime could have carried out this large-scale chemical weapons attack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBut based on our preliminary review, I will note one particular observation. We have associated one type of munition cited in the UN report \u2013 122mm rockets \u2013 with previous regime attacks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have reviewed thousands of open source videos related to the current conflict in Syria and have not observed the opposition manufacturing or using this style of rocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c(M)r. Sellstrom (said sarin used was) professionally made. He said (it) bore none of the characteristics of improvised weapons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The UN report said nothing about sarin quality. Power lied claiming otherwise. She wrongfully said Assad \u201cused (chemical weapons) multiple times over the last year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Throughout months of conflict, Washington, key NATO partners, Israel, and rogue Arab states armed, funded and trained mercenary killers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saudi Arabia was caught red-handed supplying toxic agents. Last May, Turkish authorities arrested 12 suspected Al Nusra fighters. They had two kilograms of sarin nerve gas. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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On September 15, Russia <\/strong><\/span>Today<\/strong><\/span><\/a> headlined \u201cTurkish prosecutors indict Syrian rebels for seeking chemical weapons,\u201d saying:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe prosecutor in the Turkish city of Adana has issued a 132-page indictment, alleging that six men of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham tried to seek out chemicals with the intent to produce the nerve agent, sarin gas, a number of Turkish publications reported.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe main suspect in the case, 35-year-old Syrian-national Hytham Qassap has been charged with \u2018being a member of a terrorist organization\u2019 and \u2018attempting to acquire weapons for a terrorist organization.\u2019 \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe other 5, all Turkish nationals are being charged with \u2018attempting to acquire weapons for a terrorist organization.\u2019 \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe indictment alleges that Qassap tried to setup a network in Turkey in order to obtain chemical materials for the al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham Brigades.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCiting telephone calls made by the cell, the prosecution believes that the group ordered at least ten tons of chemicals, Al-Alam News Network reports.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A previous article cited Mint Press<\/span> News<\/span><\/a> headlining \u201cExclusive: Syrians in Ghouta Claim Saudi-Supplied Rebels Behind Chemical Attack,\u201d saying:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u201cRebels and local residents in Ghouta accuse Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan of providing chemical weapons to an al-Qaida linked rebel group.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Insurgents had \u201ctube-like\u201d weapons. Others were in a \u201chuge gas bottle.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Another previous article said the following:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Pentagon contractors provided chemical weapons training. Syrian forces seized a warehouse. It contained barrels marked \u201cMade in KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).\u201d Protective masks were found. So were drugs used when inhaling chemicals.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u201cThe Qatari-German Company for Pharmaceutical Industries (was) inscribed on them.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Throughout months of conflict, anti-Assad nations provided Western-enlisted death squads with heavy weapons. They still do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Insurgents bear full responsibility for attacking Ghouta. Claiming they have no access to sarin, other chemical weapons, and high quality munitions doesn\u2019t wash.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Power duplicitous accused Assad of \u201cgenocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.\u201d She wants him prosecuted in the Hague. She endorses military force to topple his government. She supports lawless aggression.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Russia\u2019s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said Sellstrom\u2019s report requires careful evaluation. It\u2019s a \u201cvery technical report. It avoids categorical assessments and conclusions,\u201d he stressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It says chemical weapons were used \u201con a relatively large scale.\u201d It excluded attribution. \u201cThere are no solid conclusions and data\u201d suggesting Syria\u2019s responsibility, said Churkin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the process of further review, everyone will be able to make their own conclusions, and we can only hope that they will be professional, not inspired by some political pressure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

UN inspectors didn\u2019t find warheads filled with sarin gas. They found munitions fragments. They suggest having been fired from multiple rocket launchers.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Other evidence indicates they came from \u201crebel\u201d held territory. Pro-Assad civilians were targeted. Unaddressed was why would Assad attack his supporters?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Why would he do it with UN inspectors close by? Why would he risk harming his own soldiers and innocent civilians?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Why would he need to use chemical weapons? He\u2019s effectively routing insurgent fighters. He\u2019s doing it consistently.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Other evidence indicates extremist anti-Assad fighters used chemical weapons multiple times. Material evidence of sarin use may have been transported from one location to another.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It may have been done to deceive inspectors. Their report excluded numbers of victims killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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At most it was scores or perhaps two or three hundred. John Kerry claiming 1,429 conflicts with Britain and France estimating several hundred.<\/span><\/p>\n

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UN inspectors found no evidence of huge numbers. Many questions remain unanswered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Knee-jerk Western conclusions point fingers the wrong way. Washington wants Assad toppled.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

It wants Syrian sovereignty destroyed. It wants subservient puppet governance replacing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It wants Iran isolated. It wants Shah era harshness restored. It wants unchallenged regional dominance. War is Obama\u2019s option of choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Plans to launch it remain firm. Timing alone is changed. Pretexts are easy to create. Ghouta was a classic false flag.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Expect another major one ahead. Expect it used to wage war. Launching it could come any time. The fullness of time will tell.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Following release of the UN report, White House press secretary Jay Carney said:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe information provided in that report that the sarin agent was delivered on surface to surface rockets that only the Assad regime has, makes clear the responsibility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Last May, UN human rights investigator Carla del Ponte said: <\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u201cAccording to the testimonies we have gathered, the rebels have used chemical weapons, making use of sarin gas.\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n

\u201cWe still have to deepen our investigation, verify and confirm (the findings) through new witness testimony, but according to what we have established so far, it is at the moment opponents of the regime who are using sarin gas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A summary fact <\/span>sheet<\/strong><\/span><\/a> accompanied a detailed technical UN report. It said in part:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDuring a temporary ceasefire for five hours each day between 26 \u2013 29 August 2013, the Mission was able to access affected sites in Moadamiyah, Ein Tarma and Zamalka in the Ghouta area of Damascus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fact-Finding Activities:<\/strong><\/h3>\n