Various materials on the Syria Crisis

 

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/18559-how-intelligence-was-twisted-to-support-an-attack-on-syria

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fine-print-time-to-show-and-tell-on-syria/2013/09/02/dcd71a90-124f-11e3-bdf6-e4fc677d94a1_story.html

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/02/201027/to-some-us-case-for-syrian-gas.html 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/uns-carla-del-ponte-says-there-is-evidence-rebels-may-have-used-sarin-in-syria-8604920.html 

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/article3779257.ece

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-316966-report-police-foil-al-nusra-bomb-attack-planned-for-adana.html

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-september-3-2013/uncle-jonny-stew-s-good-time-syria-jamboree

Don't miss this celebration in the parliament of Fredonia courtesy of TTG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyeKYQdYISg

pl

Comments

[linda]

gawker had an interesting post on a nyt aipac-heavy article that was edited to eliminate that reference:

http://gawker.com/why-the-times-s-rewrote-pro-israeli-support-for-syria-s-1245090472

[The Twisted Genius]

Even if the IC believed what intercepts it possesses were proof, they do misinterpret conversations. The NSA once put out a report that international hackers were banding together to support al Qaeda. I then put out a report refuting the NSA report. I did this because I was part of the conversation, knew the participants, understood the culture and the intricacies of how that means of communication worked. The NSA couldn't have been further from the truth. The hackers were saying the exact opposite.

I'm with Putin on this. Release the recorded conversations and let independent military/cultural/linguistic experts comment on the true meaning of the intercepts. The administration's refusal to release the evidence convinces me that it either does not exist or their interpretation is knowingly wrong. In other words, they're lying... again.

It's sad when Dennis Rodman's visit to his new best bud Kim does not look near as crazy as what's going on in Washington. Here's another appropriate video. Hail Freedonia!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyeKYQdYISg

[Bookwurm]

Adam Curtis has an interesting link with some rare raw footage of Hama's old city.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/posts/the_baby_and_the_baath_water

[zanzibar]

What passes as debate, deliberations & decision making in our nation's capital would be as hilarious as Duck Soup if it weren't so tragic for our "Constitutional" republic and all the people subject to our "messianism".

It will become very interesting when the bond/currency markets takes away the Fed's printing press at some date in the future. The fight for as large a share of the diminishing loot between the national security state and the corporate & welfare state will be worth an Onion tome.

[sleepy]

Thanks for the "Duck Soup" clip. The Marx brothers are timeless.

[confusedponderer]

Where did you find that splendid documentary? CSPAN?

[John Minnerath]

Except for a few minor costume changes it could have been on any day during the last couple weeks.

[JoeC]

Larry Johnson has just posted a most interesting report by Yossef Bodansky - http://www.globalresearch.ca/did-the-white-house-help-plan-the-syrian-chemical-attack/5347542 - that the chemical incident was a premeditated provocation by the Syrian opposition - with US and UK participation, with a clear understanding that this would nearly immediately lead to a bombing campaign by the US and allies that combined with a serious weapons delivery build up would provide an opportunity to mount a major offensive against Assad.

Johnson states that "I have it from a different source, but the message is the same".

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/76324/obamas-small-penis-moment-in-syria-this-is-a-usuk-intel-op/#more-76324

If this story line is true, it would explain the near-hysteria by the Obama Administration as it assumed the US plus the UK could nearly immediately launch a bombing campaign and that once the campaign began it would be difficult to sort out what had really happened with the chemical incident.

[Augustin L]

What should we make of this ? This looks more and more like ''Maskirova'' to make Israel an energy power. I can imagine the planners in Tel-Aviv are salivating at the thought of Goyims dying to fullfill Oded Yinon's plan. Israel Grants First Golan Heights (in Syria) Oil Drilling License To Dick Cheney-Linked Company. Among the shareholders are Jacob Rothschild and Rupert Murdoch. This is now a blatant war to pillage Syria. http://www.globalresearch.ca/srael-grants-first-golan-heights-oil-drilling-license-to-dick-cheney-linked-company/5347779

[optimax]

I never thought I would consider the opinion of the President of Russia to be more reasonable than that of our own president when it comes to world affairs, but I do. Putin says he would back a strike against Syria if he was shown proof that it was Assad who used chemical weapons. The administration has failed to show the world the irrefutable proof he says he has and has only appealed to our emotions. That is enough for Debbie Wasserman Shultz who said that as a mother and a Jew, she was swayed by the pictures of dead children that we need to punish Assad. Too many feelers and not enough thinkers in our government.

This interview with Putin shows him to be a reasonable adult, unlike Obama or Kerry, who are spouting more nonsense than I can keep up with.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130904/DA8JLE5G2.html

[smoke]

Jim White notes a report in Le Figaro, echoed by Jerusalem Post and across the net, that special units trained in Jordan by CIA/Israel/ Jordan, infiltrated into Syria days before the Aug 21 chemical attack in Ghouta.

Le Figaro speculates that the presence of foreign troops in Ghouta may have prompted the Assad regime to attack with chemical weapons. White suggests, as an alternative possibility, that the recently arrivaled units may, themselves, have orchestrated a chemical attack; that, in any case, the presence of highly trained, foreign forces in Ghouta may explain the timing and location of the attack.

In the Figaro article an investigator at IFAS (French Institute for Strategic Analysis) lays out a US strategic plan for Syria, which seems to have been in preparation for months.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2013/08/22/01003-20130822ARTFIG00438-syrie-l-operation-anti-assad-a-commence.php

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/09/04/why-is-obama-changing-the-date-and-size-of-first-cia-death-squads-to-enter-syria/

[Bandolero]

Russia just put a bit light on the the March 19 Khan Al-Assal incident, sounds in my eyes a bit more specific than the broad allegations in the 4-page-paper by the Obama administration:

http://rt.com/news/chemical-aleppo-findings-russia-417/

Russia releases key findings on chemical attack near Aleppo indicating similarity with rebel-made weapons

... Russian experts indicate that a projectile carrying the deadly nerve agent sarin was most likely fired at Khan al-Assal by the rebels, the ministry statement suggests, outlining the 100-page report handed over to the UN by Russia.

The key points of the report have been given as follows:

• the shell used in the incident “does not belong to the standard ammunition of the Syrian army and was crudely according to type and parameters of the rocket-propelled unguided missiles manufactured in the north of Syria by the so-called Bashair al-Nasr brigade”;

• RDX, which is also known as hexogen or cyclonite, was used as the bursting charge for the shell, and it is “not used in standard chemical munitions”;

• soil and shell samples contain “the non-industrially synthesized nerve agent sarin and diisopropylfluorophosphate,” which was “used by Western states for producing chemical weapons during World War II.”

The findings of the report are “extremely specific,” as they mostly consist of scientific and technical data from probes’ analysis, the ministry stressed, adding that this data can “substantially aid” the UN investigation of the incident.

[ex-PFC Chuck]

Jim White at Emptywheel finds other provocative aspects of the movement of clandestine forces (what White provocatively calls "death squads") into Syria. He suggests Obama fudged the details regarding the forces' size and movement dates, perhaps to obscure that they were in the vicinity of Ghouta on August 21, the date of the alleged gas attacks. Could they have been the perpetrators of a false flag operation? Or could they have been targeted with sarin munitions by the Assad regime? Or is there nothing to see here?
http://bit.ly/1dHPwO3

[Eliot]

Is the report public? I can't seem to find a copy.

[jon]

Fredonia, Uber Alles.

If I punch you in the nose, without provocation, I have committed assault, and can expect retaliation. It is the same for nations. However the US may feel, Syria has not attacked the US. If we attack Syria, we become a belligerant, and a party to the fight. Not to mention a potential war criminal. And being that we are the US, everything that happens after that, we will be blamed, by anyone who feels a need to lodge a grievance.

Remind me again, exactly what strategic role Syria plays for US policy and military preparedness? Is it in the Us' best interests to do things that will almost certainly kill noncombatants and inflame the current war? What would the destabilization of Jordan and Turkey mean to us? Is the creation of a Greater Kurdistan to our benefit? Will our actions help or harm Iran's interests?

Frankly, I see no real discussion of the US' strategic interests. Much posturing based on very little evidence. And a great enthusiasm to do 'Something' quickly, regardless of reason or consequence. And no rationale for why this speed of response is required. I suppose mistakes don't improve with age.

[Tyler]

If you look at all this as way to route all the mercantilist contracts through Tel Aviv by taking out all the comepting interests versus democracy for cannibal fanatics, it starts making more sense.

[Stephanie]

It looks as if we also have to rely on the Russkies for information about "joint missile exercises."

My favorite Kerryism so far is the strange reference to "armchair isolationists." Presumably a play on "armchair warriors," except there's no reason why isolationists should not expound their position from the comfort of armchairs, since by definition they're not going anywhere. Nor am I clear on who these isolationists are; I guess he means anyone who doesn't agree with the Administration.

It's a minor point at such a grave time, but I'm surprised that with all his wife's money Kerry can't afford a better plastic surgeon.

[kao_hsien-chih]

If this is true, this is practically treason. If this is true, Obama should be impeached and convicted, and deservedly so.

[Lamoe2012]

The YouTube clip is just priceless.

[Richard Hack]

The fact that Obama is pushing such a broad AUMF clearly shows that he is in no way being "dragged into" or "reluctant" to get involved in this.

This was the plan from Day One. The above mention of Seymour Hersh's 2007 report on plans to take out Syria make perfect sense.

In 2006, Dick Cheney was pushing for Israel to attack Iran. Israel could not without first taking out Hizballah and its (then) ten thousand or so rockets. So Israel launched the 2006 fiasco which failed miserably.

At that point Colonel Lang pointed out that Israel could only take out Hizballah (if then) by attacking into the Bekaa Valley. That would require crossing Syrian territory, engaging Syrian troops and that means two-front war and casualties.

Then the 2007 NIE on Iran came out and ruined Cheney's plans. So at that point a new plan was made: find an excuse to take out Syria.

The "Arab Spring" gave them that excuse: foment a rebellion in Syria. Libya was even better: it gave them a precedent for US/NATO military intervention under "R2P".

So once the Syrian crisis turned violent, the US rushed to the UN with UN Charter Chapter 7 language to authorize future military intervention. That hit a snag when Russia and China, burned on Syria, opened their eyes and vetoed those Resolutions.

So then the US turned to the insurgents and began training them to handle chemical weapons. At the same time it had the insurgents fire first into Turkey, and then into Israel, so that Turkey and Israel would fire back at Syrian troops. But Assad didn't take the bait and refused to retaliate.

So then Israel made air raids into Syria claiming to bomb missiles headed for Hizballah in Lebanon - thus raising the Hizballah connection explicitly. Still Assad refused to retaliate.

So now came the chemical weapons ploy. Sarin gas was sent to the insurgents from Libyan stocks and homemade versions were produced and utilized in attempts to blame the Syrian government and establish a pattern of repeated use.

And now a much larger attack has occurred, prior to which the insurgents were informed and supplies transferred to them to prepare for the event - all under US intelligence control.

Which implies that Obama has known about this plan since his election at least and has been on board with it since Day One, contrary to the hallucinations of those who STILL think he's being "dragged into" or "reluctant" to attack Syria.

The entire purpose of the Syrian crisis is to enable Syria and Hizballah to be degraded militarily to the point where they will be unable to be effective actors against Israel in an Iran war.

This entire situation is ALL about IRAN and getting an Iran war started within the next couple years, presumably by end of Obama's term.

[Mark Logan]

CP,

I doubt it. The "classified briefings" aren't shown on CPAN.

[Augustin L]

Even mainstream news outlets are savaging the chicken hawks case for war.Kerry claims 1429 dead from chemical attacks, the UK government says at least 350 fatalities, the Syrian Observatory (muslim brotherhood organ) claims 502 dead, France says 281 dead. Aren't they all sharing the same intelligence to build this case. Sheer incompetence in the war camp.http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/02/201027/to-some-us-case-for-syrian-gas.html#.UieOqnDD_mI

[lally]

Wasn't the Russian report presented to the UN?

Gadfly Matt Lee from Inner City Press tweets & reports on the shenanigans @ the UN. He posted about the Russian's *determinations on July 9. Lee has also posted a **letter from the Syrian ambassador who claimed that the US, France and UK basically pressured Ban not to investigate the CW incident @ Khan al Asal):

*"Just before Hadi's briefing about Syria, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the press he'd given an 80 page submission about rebel use of chemical weapons in Khan al Asal."
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1sanctions070913.html

Is the recent report an expanded version or does it represent a 2 month lag time in leaking it now because of current events? Have the permanent members of the UNSC been apprised of the Russian report? Sort of puts a different spin on Putin's willingness to talk the talk at the UN Security Council.

**"It should be recalled that, in its letter to the Secretary-General of 20 March 2013, the Syrian Government officially requested that the investigation should determine who it was that used chemical weapons in Khan Asal. That request, however, was rejected by at the time by the delegations of the United States of America, Britain and France."

In addition there was this tweet from Israeli establishment journalist Oren Kessler @ the time of the incident.

Oren Kessler
‏@OrenKessler Israeli security officials believe Syrian rebels used sarin gas against soldiers yesterday, killing 26 (Yediot) Reply Retweet Favorite More 14 RETWEETS 2 FAVORITES 3:14 AM - 20 Mar 13 from location https://twitter.com/OrenKessler/status/314319035112235010

It appears that the Israelis and the Russians were in synch back then.

Games within games within games.

[CTuttle]

This is utter bullsh*t...

Secretary of State John Kerry said at Wednesday’s hearing that Arab counties have offered to pay for the entirety of unseating President Bashar al-Assad if the United States took the lead militarily.

“With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assess, the answer is profoundly yes,” Kerry said. “They have. That offer is on the table.”

Asked by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) about how much those countries would contribute, Kerry said they have offered to pay for all of a full invasion.

“In fact, some of them have said that if the United States is prepared to go do the whole thing the way we’ve done it previously in other places, they’ll carry that cost,” Kerry said. “That’s how dedicated they are at this. That’s not in the cards, and nobody’s talking about it, but they’re talking in serious ways about getting this done.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics-live/liveblog/the-houses-syria-hearing-live-updates/?id=e68f139f-e012-476c-876e-2467ba30e5e3

[optimax]

Kerry's face looks like it is made out of Play Dough. Kerry was told by a house member at a committee meeting that a majority of Americans are against military action. Kerry said, in a snotty manner, that he was aware of the numbers.
In other words, he doesn't care what the people think.