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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Shows Russians "The Rebels Did It"
2013-09-18
A top Russian diplomat visiting Damascus says Syria has turned over material aimed at showing that a chemical weapons attack last month was carried out by rebels.
And if you can't trust a Syrian government representative....
Posted by:Bobby

#13  Thank you, Uncle Phester -- a rock classic.
Posted by: trailing wife   2013-09-18 20:56  

#12  Re: TW comment - 7:52 mark
Posted by: Uncle Phester   2013-09-18 20:07  

#11  which equals isolation keeping the Israelis happy

But Iran supports Shiite communities throughout the Arab world. Also, it seems to me that while Israel would appreciate Iran being less powerful, they will not be truly happy until Iran's nuclear weapons sites are destroyed, and Hizb'allah's and Hamas's missiles are significantly reduced as a threat. Removing Assad the Younger won't answer those needs.
Posted by: trailing wife   2013-09-18 19:55  

#10  As I see it is in the US/Western/Saudi interest to blame Assad so they could get involved resulting in regime change which weakens Iranian influence in the middle east. With Assad out of the way the Iranians have no allies in the middle east of note which equals isolation keeping the Israelis happy and makes the West job of treating Iran like North Korea iea pariah state.

Look at the big picture. The end game is Iran which we start by taking out Syria. After Syria Iran and Hezbollah will be next in line.

The only problem we have is China and Russia support our enemies ie Iran, Syria and North Korea.

How do we deal with the puppet masters Russia and China who are pulling the strings?
Posted by: Paul D   2013-09-18 19:20  

#9  You know we've got some serious Sunni vs Shi'a hate going on when nobody has blamed Mossad yet.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2013-09-18 14:30  

#8  Chem attack rumors have beein going around well before this one happened, ever since the Turks reported that islamists had overrun some of the chem wep storage areas.

As said from the past, the immortal Roman question: cui bono? Syrian government has nothing to gain militarily politically or territorily by using these internally (unlike Saddam against the Kurds, while "nobody was looking" or the Iranians where nobody really cared)) and quite a lot of local lessons to the contrary (look at the No Fly that happened to Saddam in the Kurdish areas bcause of that) - and a lot to lose in terms of forcing action by the west. They were doing well enough using lots and lots of artillery and airstrikes But if the "rebels" use them, especially since the use was in a Chaldean/FreeArmy (not Nusra) area [surprise surprise] and somehow all the casualties were well documented by people that just happened to be positioned just right to do that, and westerners were not in the attack but wre able to be shown the chem results... You do the math. I dont trust Syria nor Putin, but this is one where Obama and the US IC (but not military) seemed far to eager to produce and accept "firm evidence" that they havent actually sourced well or publicly. This whole thing stinks of manipulation.
Posted by: OldSpook   2013-09-18 12:59  

#7  Dunno who to believe. Don't care. Just leave me out of it.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2013-09-18 12:13  

#6   Islamic State of Iraq and Al Nursa Front are two top contenders Paul

In April 2013 , Turkey says it arrested 2 guys from Al Nursa with 2kg of Sarin which they later retracted

Al Nursa also overran a Syrian weapons dump reported to store chems .

Kinda makes ya wonder , add in the usual Middle East bull$hit and then Russian intervention combined with complete incompetence from Obama and we have a 'anyones blame game' going off

I cant believe Im about to quote Mitt Romney but : When it comes to pinning blame, pin the tail on the donkeys.
Posted by: Jereth Gluter7467   2013-09-18 11:57  

#5  It's in the Russians' interest to force as many confrontations as possible while Captain Clusterfuck is still in charge and make the most of the next three and a half years.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2013-09-18 10:52  

#4  Who gains the most out of western bombing, PD?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-09-18 08:06  

#3  Who gains the most out of a chemical attack?
Posted by: Paul D   2013-09-18 08:02  

#2  There is always the possibility that BOTH sides are using, or have used chemical weapons.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-09-18 07:52  

#1  Strange as it feels to view Assad as a "good guy", I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turned to be true---cui bono, etc...
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-09-18 07:47  

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