"Evidence" of Syria chemical weapons use not up to U.N. standard

[cqo_000]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Assertions of chemical weapon use in Syria by Western and Israeli officials citing photos, sporadic shelling and traces of toxins do not meet the standard of proof needed for a U.N. team of experts waiting to gather their own field evidence.

Weapons inspectors will only determine whether banned chemical agents were used in the two-year-old conflict if they are able to access sites and take soil, blood, urine or tissue samples and examine them in certified laboratories, according to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which works with the United Nations on inspections.

That type of evidence, needed to show definitively if banned chemicals were found, has not been presented by governments and intelligence agencies accusing Syria of using chemical weapons against insurgents.

"This is the only basis on which the OPCW would provide a formal assessment of whether chemical weapons have been used," said Michael Luhan, a spokesman for the Hague-based OPCW.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/us-syria-crisis-chemical-weapons-idUSBRE93P0UG20130426

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. It is up to the standard for bellicose propaganda offensives, though.

Too bad all the Western intel agencies cried wolf a decade ago. Who can trust them now?

[arewenotdemo]

2. I feel like the malevolent stench of Wolfowitz and the rest of the neocon scum

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2013, 05:28 AM - Edit history (1)

is somehow still dictating American foreign policy, still pushing the U.S. to "roll up" the last of the Russian "client states".

It's beyond nauseating.

[karynnj]

13. Actually, Obama, Hagel and Kerry have ALL been on the go slow side - not the intervene side

They have pushed back the McCain/Graham/Lieberman side that likely has listened to people like Wolfowitz.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

3. The U.N. is the 'enemy' of the U.S.

Trying to take over the world.

According to many of our leaders, and M$M folks.

So this can be discounted, and full speed ahead, to another war.

Hard to see how this can be averted, considering the 'facts' on the ground, and another war is really just what our job creators and banksters need, right about now... since that, and printing money, is our only growth industry since around 2001.

[pampango]

9. You're right. Our far-right thinks the UN is the beginning of the NWO which limits US sovereignty

so we have the 'right' to ignore the UN and do whatever we want, whenever we want to whomever we want.

At least so far, Obama seems to prefer getting the UN involved in the investigation then bringing the results of that to the Security Council. I am sure that McCain and the other bellicose politicians on the right will be braying for immediate action while cooler heads are prevailing.

[Brother Buzz]

4. you want proof? I got it right here

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. but the US/Israel said so! something must be done!

notice how these ludicrous claims are not new, but are only being turned into the newest cause celebre for war after the rebels are being routed on several fronts. The Saudi/Qatari investment in freedom(TM) is being threatened! US/Israeli hearts are bleeding for those poor al-Qai'dah fighters! But according to the NYTimes, it may be a "retreat", but "not a full withdrawal".

The only bright side about this nonsense is that while all of the best PR machines are acting coy, and the keyboard brigade is as naive and stupid as ever, none of the major powers are really concealing their fairly obvious intentions this time--I appreciate that kind of frankness in the display of bloodthirsty avarice, it makes it so much easier for me to make fun of.

[Rozlee]

6. The rank and file American doesn't seem to be enthusiastic about another war.

Maybe I just live in a rarefied environment; insular and isolated among people that have an ideology similar to mine, but I really don't hear much of a hue and cry to invade Syria. Oh, except that I do work as a volunteer at the VA two afternoons a week and some politics is discussed, but it's mostly domestic, not foreign. They've even stopped yammering about Benghazi. I don't think the public has much of an impetus to invade anyone. We're scarred from two disastrous wars and don't have the major driving factor of a horrific act like 9/11 and the demagogues that took advantage of it to whip us into a war frenzy this time around.

[oberliner]

7. "a U.N. team of experts waiting to gather their own field evidence"

With Syria blocking the U.N. mission, it is unlikely they will gain that type of access any time soon.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Syrian evidence confusing because we didn’t manufacture it, admit UN members

Emerging evidence of the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime has left Western governments baffled, because haven’t had to manufacture it.

With photos, videos and YouTube clips appearing from inside Syria, UK and US officials have begun wondering if this is what real weapons of mass destruction evidence looks like.

One government insider told us, “I asked an MoD official who created this evidence and he said ‘no-one’ – I have to tell you I was a little stumped.”

“It’s almost like we might have to intervene with a deadly regime for nothing but the right reasons. Won’t that be a novel experience?”

http://newsthump.com/2013/04/26/syrian-evidence-confusing-because-we-didnt-manufacture-it-admit-un-members/

[karynnj]

14. LOL - is this the British Onion? I have not seen it before.

[dipsydoodle]

15. Sort of

the other one here is News Biscuit - check that out too.

[enjoyingyourpeasyet]

10. Funny how the USA uses Chemical weapons on its people on a regular basis

and no one cares or says shit about it except those on the receiving end of chemical weapons and even when they speak up the masses still don't give a shit and say they deserved it.

For the uninformed lachrymatory agents are chemical weapons, Google it of you do not know what they are.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. ... and I can clear a room with a fart

... but that doesn't make it a Chemical Weapon, no matter how many tears are shed.

No real comparison to mustard gas or nerve agents.

But thanks for the long word.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Soil analysis won't help

It can provide evidence that chemical weapons were used. It might not indicate who used them.

Anti-Assad fighters would have reasons to use chemicals, even on "friendlies". If they thought it would convince NATO to enforce a no-fly zone, for example. (and, no-tank, no-truck, no-artillery, no-people, no-nothing zone, like in Libya).

I can't see a reason to go to war there. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.