So killing thousands and thousands of civilians does not warrant international action, but the use of chlorine in killing them does?
Yes! Gulf of Tonkin---Iraq¬s weapons of mass destruction---and on and on as the New American Century progresses. Russia is next.
Gee what a surprise. Obama is duped again.
1
60 Minutes' recent foray into inflamatory yellow journalism with their expose of Syrian use of sarin and by extension the USs not attacking Syria. The tragedy of Assad's criminal regime is only matched by the murderous groups aligned to destroy his regime. Such as ISIS and al Qaeda. 60 Minutes allegations are old and have been debunked. The sarin attack was perpetrated by al Noursa and Turkish intelligence in an effort to provoke President Obama to enter into the maelstrom of the Syrian civil war. The barrel bomb allegation has not been proven but it would not surprise me. The Assad regime is a peculiarly vicious.
And your source for this revisonist view is?
Nothing yellow or sensational about Assad's use of chemical weapons in his war against his own people. It is all true. Over 200,000 are dead and millions have emigrated because of Bachir Assad's systematic murder of his fellow Syrians,."Yellow journalism" was a term which came into use during William Randolph Hearst's day to mobilize public opinion for a war against Spain in the late 19th century. Casualties on both sides were minimal, although it did usher in a period of American imperialism.But the comparison with the genocide in Syria, which we have condoned by drawing a red line but not enforcing it is a trifle ludicrous.Turning points are not always recognized for what they are at the time, but the adminstration's last minute decision not to order air strikes against Assad's air force in 2012, in an apparent attempt to ingratiate ourselves to Iran, for whom Syria is a client state,caused many in the ME to lose respect for us, and to regard our chief of state as whimsical, capricious.Not an enviable image for the leader of the free world to have.
Really the traces of these vicious chemical weapons, and the chlorine bombs, barely matter. Assad has a campaign going, of trying to reestablish his totalitarian state by means of slaughtering random civilians until the opposition loses enough morale to quit fighting. This won't really work of course, because now his opposition is largely fundamentalists who don't mind dying; they live for killing and then dying as martyrs.
So if Assad is coerced into ceasing to use chemical weapons, again, he will simply use conventional weapons to keep piling up casualties. There's only one real way to stop the mayhem in Syria, and that's by annihilating Assad and his forces, and wiping out the fanatics opposing him, and forcing peace by overwhelming might and an occupation lasting at least a decade or two.
Nobody's going to do that though really, so I think we should just accept that people are going to kill eachother in Syria for no reason until the lack of water makes it completely uninhabitable. We could try to rescue as many non-combatants as possible, although I'm not sure where they'll go, and in the end we'll have to wipe out the hordes of starving barbarians that are the last wave out of there, most likely with artillery barrages and carpet bombing.
There is no good future for Syria without massive international military response. Since that will not be forthcoming, Syria is doomed no matter what.
So if Assad is coerced into ceasing to use chemical weapons, again, he will simply use conventional weapons to keep piling up casualties. There's only one real way to stop the mayhem in Syria, and that's by annihilating Assad and his forces, and wiping out the fanatics opposing him, and forcing peace by overwhelming might and an occupation lasting at least a decade or two.
Nobody's going to do that though really, so I think we should just accept that people are going to kill eachother in Syria for no reason until the lack of water makes it completely uninhabitable. We could try to rescue as many non-combatants as possible, although I'm not sure where they'll go, and in the end we'll have to wipe out the hordes of starving barbarians that are the last wave out of there, most likely with artillery barrages and carpet bombing.
There is no good future for Syria without massive international military response. Since that will not be forthcoming, Syria is doomed no matter what.
Suspicious?
"Traces of sarin, a nerve agent, were found in drainage pipes and in artillery shells in two places, and traces of another banned toxin, ricin, were found in a third location..."
Odd that the inspectors didn't mention which side's artillery shells had sarin in them, and which side controlled the area were the drainage ditch was located, or where the ricin was found. Maybe the inspectors did answer these obviously important questions but the Times didn't consider that information important enough to report.
"Traces of sarin, a nerve agent, were found in drainage pipes and in artillery shells in two places, and traces of another banned toxin, ricin, were found in a third location..."
Odd that the inspectors didn't mention which side's artillery shells had sarin in them, and which side controlled the area were the drainage ditch was located, or where the ricin was found. Maybe the inspectors did answer these obviously important questions but the Times didn't consider that information important enough to report.
1
What Government? Syria was taken over by ISIS thanks to Hillary and Barack Obama.
what's left of the Syrian government is fighting ISIS back with everything they can. sarin is their Weapon Of Mass Destruction
The U.S. Weapon Of Mass Destruction is the Nuclear Bomb.
that is what our government would use if we were in our final throws.
what's left of the Syrian government is fighting ISIS back with everything they can. sarin is their Weapon Of Mass Destruction
The U.S. Weapon Of Mass Destruction is the Nuclear Bomb.
that is what our government would use if we were in our final throws.
1
"throws"??
Here's the solution, a commenter writes (facetiously, I hope):
"Let's toss out Assad and allow ISIS... to complete their take-over of the region."
After all, we started down that path when we disbanded the Iraqi army, sending home hundreds of thousands of Iraqi soldiers -- humiliated, without a paycheck, and resentful of the US, but all possessing arms and the knowledge of how to use them. Who'd have ever predicted, as Dexter Filkins reported in the New Yorker a few months back, that, years later, most ISIS commanders would be former top officers in the Iraqi army?
Same thing this time around. If we help the rebels get rid of Assad, certainly we won't be helping ISIS, will we? Can't we just ask each rebel before we give him weapons and money: "Are you a good rebel or a bad rebel, cuz we only help good rebels?"
"Let's toss out Assad and allow ISIS... to complete their take-over of the region."
After all, we started down that path when we disbanded the Iraqi army, sending home hundreds of thousands of Iraqi soldiers -- humiliated, without a paycheck, and resentful of the US, but all possessing arms and the knowledge of how to use them. Who'd have ever predicted, as Dexter Filkins reported in the New Yorker a few months back, that, years later, most ISIS commanders would be former top officers in the Iraqi army?
Same thing this time around. If we help the rebels get rid of Assad, certainly we won't be helping ISIS, will we? Can't we just ask each rebel before we give him weapons and money: "Are you a good rebel or a bad rebel, cuz we only help good rebels?"
It's astonishing that many of our commenters believe that diplomacy talks, and verification of treaties doesn't work in any form whatsoever.
Yet State Department protocols and past experience shows that these treaties and agreements can work and do work. But when it comes to looking for some reason to pin failure to Obama, and the withholding of acknowledged accomplishments, there is no bridge too far for this group.
Yet State Department protocols and past experience shows that these treaties and agreements can work and do work. But when it comes to looking for some reason to pin failure to Obama, and the withholding of acknowledged accomplishments, there is no bridge too far for this group.
2
Based on the propensity of the commenters to move immediately to military confrontation, and escalation of military budgets, In response to any conflict in the Middle East... Where Barack Obama not in office we would be entangled in half a dozen conflagrations of a regrettable nature: lives lost, treasure squandered, futures eclipsed.
3
Richard,
Good point, though there are more of us out here than you may think.
I doubt many people know this, but the International Atomic Energy Agency has never accused Iran of using nuclear material for any non-peaceful purpose. Not once. Only once has the IAEA reported Iran as having violated its Safeguards Agreement -- in early 2006, when the IAEA reported that Iran had failed to report its importation and use of a very small amount of uranium in 1991 (from China). When it reported this, the IAEA acknowledged that the disclosure violation had ended years earlier (lat2 2003) -- i.e. Iran had finally acknowledged having received the uranium. I though Iran's argument that disclosure hadn't been required earlier was flimsy, very flimsy, though I suspect Iran actually believed its argument had merit. The key point remains that that was a disclosure violation (that ended 12 years ago), not a prohibited use of nuclear material. The IAEA made quite clear that Iran had had every right to import and use that uranium. Its only complaint was that Iran should have disclosed it.
I'll bet very few Americans know this, but it's not really disputable.
Good point, though there are more of us out here than you may think.
I doubt many people know this, but the International Atomic Energy Agency has never accused Iran of using nuclear material for any non-peaceful purpose. Not once. Only once has the IAEA reported Iran as having violated its Safeguards Agreement -- in early 2006, when the IAEA reported that Iran had failed to report its importation and use of a very small amount of uranium in 1991 (from China). When it reported this, the IAEA acknowledged that the disclosure violation had ended years earlier (lat2 2003) -- i.e. Iran had finally acknowledged having received the uranium. I though Iran's argument that disclosure hadn't been required earlier was flimsy, very flimsy, though I suspect Iran actually believed its argument had merit. The key point remains that that was a disclosure violation (that ended 12 years ago), not a prohibited use of nuclear material. The IAEA made quite clear that Iran had had every right to import and use that uranium. Its only complaint was that Iran should have disclosed it.
I'll bet very few Americans know this, but it's not really disputable.
Maybe this time the red line should be just a tad thicker and brighter so, you know, it can be seen. After all, the previous red line was ignored, right? Must have been an oversight.
2
This time Assad should be taken out by multiple drone strikes. That's a red line that can't be ignored.
When will all these nonsense end? Traces of banned toxic chemicals being found in Syria, so Assad must be violating the terms of the agreement signed, what to do next? Strike Assad? Anybody who has studied the Middle East will know the problems we see in that part of the world is as a result of so called foreign policy analyst who continue to make the wrong calls all over the region. And the sad part his, The American government subscribes to these men and women who for the must part are not objective in their analysis, but rather pushing agendas that does not mean well for the great country we call America. Assad is less of a treat than the Islamic terrorist we have in Syria. look at Libya, at the least with Gaddafi we knew he can be checked. But since his killing, Libya has not seen the promised democracy, instead the militants have taken over, the military equipment under his control, has become weapon of choice by Islamic groups all across the Sahel and West Africa.
3
How inconvenient is that?
The rebels report that Assad's people are using chlorine, but the inspectors find no evidence of this. The rebels don't claim Assad's troops are using ricin (or anything else -- just chlorine), and the inspectors find ricin.
Shades of 2013, where the inspectors couldn't determine which side had used chemical weapons in Damascus (though it struck me then as most likely the rebels), but that event has been reported ever since -- by the Times and most other publications -- as an example of Assad's use of chemical weapons. Investigations of the other 2013 incidents were either inconclusive or pointed pretty clearly to the rebels. To their credit (I suppose), Western media has largely refrained from blaming those on Assad's troops.
For those who aren't familiar with how this is done, this article is a great example. You just mix:
1. An allegation that Assad's troops are using one chemical (chlorine, this time), with utterly no evidence to support that allegation found by inspectors.
AND
2. Investigators' reports that some other chemical was found, with utterly no evidence as to which side put the stuff there.
And what does that mixture produce?
Simple: incontrovertible "proof" that Assad's troops used both chlorine and ricin. For a week or so, reputable media will report this in carefully hedged language. But the hedging eventually will disappear, and we'll be left with unhedged allegations that Assad's troops used both chlorine and ricin.
The rebels report that Assad's people are using chlorine, but the inspectors find no evidence of this. The rebels don't claim Assad's troops are using ricin (or anything else -- just chlorine), and the inspectors find ricin.
Shades of 2013, where the inspectors couldn't determine which side had used chemical weapons in Damascus (though it struck me then as most likely the rebels), but that event has been reported ever since -- by the Times and most other publications -- as an example of Assad's use of chemical weapons. Investigations of the other 2013 incidents were either inconclusive or pointed pretty clearly to the rebels. To their credit (I suppose), Western media has largely refrained from blaming those on Assad's troops.
For those who aren't familiar with how this is done, this article is a great example. You just mix:
1. An allegation that Assad's troops are using one chemical (chlorine, this time), with utterly no evidence to support that allegation found by inspectors.
AND
2. Investigators' reports that some other chemical was found, with utterly no evidence as to which side put the stuff there.
And what does that mixture produce?
Simple: incontrovertible "proof" that Assad's troops used both chlorine and ricin. For a week or so, reputable media will report this in carefully hedged language. But the hedging eventually will disappear, and we'll be left with unhedged allegations that Assad's troops used both chlorine and ricin.
3
The story that they are using chemical weapons is not new. Attacks are being reported in other media all the time. Amazing this is just a NYT story now. There have been pictures and reports constantly.
2
President Obama should draw a Red Line on the usage of chemical weapons that they don't dare cross.
1
Don
There is already a line in the sand It's called the Geneva Convention.A murderer like Assad could care about lines or agreements, they are of the same mentality as the Iranian Mullahs, & Putin.
There is already a line in the sand It's called the Geneva Convention.A murderer like Assad could care about lines or agreements, they are of the same mentality as the Iranian Mullahs, & Putin.
2
Obama says, "Red line in the sand? What red line in the sand?
Weapons of mass destruction? What weapons of mass destruction? You didnt think I was serious about that did you?"
Weapons of mass destruction? What weapons of mass destruction? You didnt think I was serious about that did you?"
This article reads just like those leading up to the New York Times supporting the invasion of Iraq. It's filled with suppositions, innuendo, and familiar propaganda but no hard facts. Those suppositions and innuendos all come down on the side of the rebels and against the Syrian government. I am perplexed and disappointed that editors allowed such a one-sided report as this to be published.
I recall being struck by a comment made by one of the UN inspectors during a "60 Minutes" report. He thought it quite a coincidence that a "government" chemical weapons attack occurred in the town held by rebels they were inspecting for chemical weapons use that very day. There have been many events since that don't make sense. Some of the propaganda we are being fed is laughable and there have been so many unsupported allegations that we probably won't recognize the truth if we were to ever hear it.
I recall being struck by a comment made by one of the UN inspectors during a "60 Minutes" report. He thought it quite a coincidence that a "government" chemical weapons attack occurred in the town held by rebels they were inspecting for chemical weapons use that very day. There have been many events since that don't make sense. Some of the propaganda we are being fed is laughable and there have been so many unsupported allegations that we probably won't recognize the truth if we were to ever hear it.
4
I do not believe anything I read anymore because one week later there will be a story contradicting it all. You remember the first time we were told the Syrian government had used chemical weapons on its people only to find out it was the rebels who had used it. Remember these are the rebels who were armed and trained by the CIA. How about the Sony hacking? First it was North Korea and then Russia and then back to North Korea. When the dust settled it turned out to be a disgruntled former employee.
The point is our government is intent on stirring up enemies around every corner. Everything it touches is ruined. A million dead in Iraq with the country in shambles, Libya dysfunctional and dangerous, Syrians gassed by CIA trained rebels, Yemen in tatters and Egypt ran for years by American lapdog dictator is still unstable after the citizens could no longer take it anymore.
It would be wise fellow American citizens to address this evil streak in our government before they turn it on us. They are running out of credible enemies. The rest of the world is doing its best to avoid war while it seems we arm the rest of the world for war. It is only a matter of time before they turn this war machine on us. You need to look no further then the militarization of your local police. The writing is on the wall.
Western Inspectors finding traces of banned chemicals is the least of your worries. The U.S. government is most likely the supplier. They used banned chemicals on Iraqis.
The point is our government is intent on stirring up enemies around every corner. Everything it touches is ruined. A million dead in Iraq with the country in shambles, Libya dysfunctional and dangerous, Syrians gassed by CIA trained rebels, Yemen in tatters and Egypt ran for years by American lapdog dictator is still unstable after the citizens could no longer take it anymore.
It would be wise fellow American citizens to address this evil streak in our government before they turn it on us. They are running out of credible enemies. The rest of the world is doing its best to avoid war while it seems we arm the rest of the world for war. It is only a matter of time before they turn this war machine on us. You need to look no further then the militarization of your local police. The writing is on the wall.
Western Inspectors finding traces of banned chemicals is the least of your worries. The U.S. government is most likely the supplier. They used banned chemicals on Iraqis.
4
Actually last time we were told Syria used chemical weapons on its people only to have it proven later that Syria used chemical weapons on its people. The only people claiming otherwise were pro-Assad folks, who are enamored of genocide or something. There's every reason to take these current accusations as true, from how Assad has acted before.
1
Only the U.S. thinks this is any business of the U.S.
The US. and their so called, allies, have been fomenting unrest and mayhem in Syria from the very beginning. Only the U.S. has a miraculous blind spot over this.
The U.S, are taken notice of because they drop atom bombs on people. destroy entire countries, and kill people by the million, having devoted their spare time into weapons of killing, other countries, all of which are reluctant to follow that sad path.
The U.S. is not the ballet or the baritone; it is the big mongrel dog in the room that fouls where it likes.
The US. and their so called, allies, have been fomenting unrest and mayhem in Syria from the very beginning. Only the U.S. has a miraculous blind spot over this.
The U.S, are taken notice of because they drop atom bombs on people. destroy entire countries, and kill people by the million, having devoted their spare time into weapons of killing, other countries, all of which are reluctant to follow that sad path.
The U.S. is not the ballet or the baritone; it is the big mongrel dog in the room that fouls where it likes.
1
"Traces" of banned chemicals? "Traces"? Man, the anti-Assad quislings are really getting hard up.
4
Traces? The USA promised to have its chemical weapons destroyed by 2012 at the latest, but it still retains thousands of TONS of toxic chemicals intended for military purposes. Washington's latest forecast is it will finally divest itself of chemical weapon by 2023. In other words, and assuming America's good faith in the matter, it's not easy to eliminate chemical weapons once they're made.
Chlorine jury-rigged into weapons? It's possible, and it's a war crime. But chlorine is an industrial chemical that's used everywhere. In other words, both sides have ready access to it. And given the clumsy attempts previously mounted by anti-government forces to implicate the Syrian military, these latest anonymous claims must be taken with a good deal of reservation.
Obama's "red line" in Syria's sand is still delivering humanitarian consequences.
Chlorine jury-rigged into weapons? It's possible, and it's a war crime. But chlorine is an industrial chemical that's used everywhere. In other words, both sides have ready access to it. And given the clumsy attempts previously mounted by anti-government forces to implicate the Syrian military, these latest anonymous claims must be taken with a good deal of reservation.
Obama's "red line" in Syria's sand is still delivering humanitarian consequences.
6
Deny, divert, and hide. It has been the main protocol for those who agree to weapons inspections for the last umpteen decades. We saw it with the Iraqis, we saw it with the North Koreans, we saw it with the Iranians and their secret nuclear site, and -- what a shocker -- we're seeing it with the Syrians now.
Satayana's maxim about those who forget history are doomed to repeat it looms large, as the US and its allies are negotiating yet another weapons inspection program with Syria's main patron, Iran. We're going to loosen and drop the sanctions. They're going to deny, divert, and hide. What a deal!
Satayana's maxim about those who forget history are doomed to repeat it looms large, as the US and its allies are negotiating yet another weapons inspection program with Syria's main patron, Iran. We're going to loosen and drop the sanctions. They're going to deny, divert, and hide. What a deal!
2
Poison Gas, how many more Syrians must be murdered before the UN and the
world expresses their outrage, over the slaughter of innocent civilians, including
thousands of Children that have been brutally murdered so that this despotic Madman can keep control over whats left of Syria.Lets not forget the Iranians & the Russians, who are complicit in this crime against humanity.
world expresses their outrage, over the slaughter of innocent civilians, including
thousands of Children that have been brutally murdered so that this despotic Madman can keep control over whats left of Syria.Lets not forget the Iranians & the Russians, who are complicit in this crime against humanity.
3
Now, what is the US going to do?
Nothing. This is Russia's sphere of influence, so we'll get involved exactly as much as in Crimea, which is to say, not at all.
WMDs anyone?! How soon we forget. There is not a shred of evidence supported by any empirical findings by inspectors and diplomats who are not even willing to reveal their identities (what are they afraid of?!) found anywhere, not even in the article but let's jump to unnecessary conclusions and beat the drums of war! ISIS must be delighted that their ruse is working with the gullible Western public.
3
Hersh proved that the sarin gas attack promoted by Obama was a false flag arranged by the USA via Turkey. Now we have the same flimsy allegations once again by the NYT.
In addition, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist Samuel Hersh claimed yesterday that the Obama administration lied to the American people about certain aspects of the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in the London Review of Books and NBC
There is no reason to believe this promotional story either
In addition, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist Samuel Hersh claimed yesterday that the Obama administration lied to the American people about certain aspects of the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in the London Review of Books and NBC
There is no reason to believe this promotional story either
7
It's Seymour Hersh. You clearly did not read his article. I did. One thing he did say was "The answer lies in a clash between those in the administration who were committed to enforcing the red line, and military leaders who thought that going to war was both unjustified and potentially disastrous." So the President took the counsel of his military leaders to heart. What's wrong with that? Hersh did say, " ‘We now know it was a covert action planned by Erdoğan’s people to push Obama over the red line,’ the former intelligence official said." So he blames the the Turks, our NATO ally, for a false flag attack.
1
And are not these inspectors the "first cousins" of the inspectors that will certify Iran in compliance with the nuclear treaty now under negotiation?
If Iran wants to hide it capabilities it can and will,
If Iran wants to hide it capabilities it can and will,
As the Iranians sit by and take notes on how to behave in the wake of the nuclear accord with the United States. Perhaps Obama can deploy his big red line right thru Tehran?
1
Let's toss out Assad and allow ISIS, (remember, that stands for "Islamic State In Syria"), to complete their take-over of the region.
First Iraq, then Libya. Now Syria? We need to rename the CIA the "Central Lack-of-Intelligence Agency".
In fact, who would not be surprised to find out that ISIS planted the traces of the toxins? ISIS thinks, as in the past, that we're dumb enough to do their work for them. Are we?
First Iraq, then Libya. Now Syria? We need to rename the CIA the "Central Lack-of-Intelligence Agency".
In fact, who would not be surprised to find out that ISIS planted the traces of the toxins? ISIS thinks, as in the past, that we're dumb enough to do their work for them. Are we?
4
How Assad ignored chemical weapons agreement will be emulated by Iran when it ignores Obama's agreement. Nuclear weapons are coming to the Middle East.
2
"Nuclear weapons are coming to the Middle East."
They are already there; see Israel, State of.
They are already there; see Israel, State of.
Assad can't be trusted! He must have withheld a small arsenal of chemical agents. In recent months the Saudis have stepped up their support, allowing the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front to capture Jisr al-Shughour, Assad's last major stronghold in a strategic Syrian province.
He is desperate for a game-changer to tip the scales. His regime had used barrel bombs filled with chlorine before and it wouldn't hesitate to use other chemical agents to make gains.
He is desperate for a game-changer to tip the scales. His regime had used barrel bombs filled with chlorine before and it wouldn't hesitate to use other chemical agents to make gains.
4
Remember Obama's red line about using gas?
4
The only one on the planet surprised at this intelligence is Barack Obama. He was told endlessly that this would be a bad deal, because it depended on Assad to play it straight.
Excuse me? We expected Assad to play it straight? EVERYONE knew that Assad would hold back chemical weapons.
The president didn't want to get involved in Syria, because he was putting the final touches on his "pivot" that went absolutely nowhere, but gave him an excuse to try to seriously downgrade military expenditures to bring down the deficit so he could argue for expanding our domestic free cheese factories and Band-Aid dispensaries. So we didn't bomb Syria.
Now ... does this all sound too dyspeptically familiar? Doesn't the Iranian nuclear deal depend on Iran playing it straight? But let's not ruin that 1000 batting average on really innocent international deals over which others play us for saps. Maybe we can start peace talks with ISIS, provided they promise not to behead everyone not a radical Sunni.
Excuse me? We expected Assad to play it straight? EVERYONE knew that Assad would hold back chemical weapons.
The president didn't want to get involved in Syria, because he was putting the final touches on his "pivot" that went absolutely nowhere, but gave him an excuse to try to seriously downgrade military expenditures to bring down the deficit so he could argue for expanding our domestic free cheese factories and Band-Aid dispensaries. So we didn't bomb Syria.
Now ... does this all sound too dyspeptically familiar? Doesn't the Iranian nuclear deal depend on Iran playing it straight? But let's not ruin that 1000 batting average on really innocent international deals over which others play us for saps. Maybe we can start peace talks with ISIS, provided they promise not to behead everyone not a radical Sunni.
2
"International inspectors have found traces of banned toxic chemicals in at least three military locations in Syria" But, fear not! Obama will get out his box of crayons and draw a big red line that Mr. Assad dare not cross!
The courageous and steadfast Obama will scare the Assad military to death and into compliance by quickly deploying the most deadly tool in the American arsenal. The Big Red Crayon, used only in the gravest of emergencies is known to have devastating effects.
Violating the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons are indicative of actions far beyond acting in bad faith by the Syrians. And now the Syrians will feel the sting of America's Big Red Crayon!
The courageous and steadfast Obama will scare the Assad military to death and into compliance by quickly deploying the most deadly tool in the American arsenal. The Big Red Crayon, used only in the gravest of emergencies is known to have devastating effects.
Violating the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons are indicative of actions far beyond acting in bad faith by the Syrians. And now the Syrians will feel the sting of America's Big Red Crayon!
5
A recent White House Summit that explored how to blunt the recruiting success of ISIL, failed to consider the unchecked crimes against humanity of the Assad regime as a key element of their success. As long as this dynamic persists, the threat will continue to metastasize, the "war" against ISIL will founder and ever more civillians Sunni, Shia, Christians and secularists, will suffer as ISIL inspired attaks against the West grow.
The policy of alerting Syrian aircraft that coalition forces are about to bomb ISIL targets--while those Syrian aircraft bomb civillians in the same airspace--clearly misses the point.
The policy of alerting Syrian aircraft that coalition forces are about to bomb ISIL targets--while those Syrian aircraft bomb civillians in the same airspace--clearly misses the point.
3
The "red line" was a rookie mistake, but let's be honest and admit that criticizing for lack of action is easy whereas solving the Syria problem is hard. Assad should be tried for crimes against humanity, but do we benefit from dislodging him? Should we have to fight ISIS? Would you have us drop bombs and kill more innocent people? Even if the critics had a plan, how would they square it with Syria's Russian cheerleaders?
3
What does a "trace" mean? Could these traces have been left from the process of eliminating the chemical weapons? Just asking. I have no idea what Mr. Assad has done or not done but I am pretty sure most of the "rebels" fighting him are no less cruel and brutal. It is the average person who gets abused in situations like these. This is a sectarian battle and the US has no business being involved.
12
I hate to say it, but maybe the Middle East would have been much better off without our meddling. What has been gained in any of the countries we've either had direct or indirect involvement in? We've either intentionally or unintentionally fomented unrest in several places that are now broken shards. I am not going to name countries because people will just name leaders they feel were responsible for each nation's demise/unrest. Why don't we try a slow transition to democracy instead of a face-paced changeover? Why not try to have negations that are "baby-steps" so there can be a less violent process? Perhaps I am being naïve and that would never work. But looking at the present state of things, the price of the present course should give anyone pause.
PS: I don't even know what Assad had done that warranted our position to have him overthrown in the first place. All that I can remember is him having his picture taken with our leaders -- who had smiles on their faces.
PS: I don't even know what Assad had done that warranted our position to have him overthrown in the first place. All that I can remember is him having his picture taken with our leaders -- who had smiles on their faces.
4
Amazing how the US and allies go nuts on these nasty chemicals but themselves have no trouble using savage drone attacks in several countries and then deny that they did it.
14
This is just another example of our very sloppy foreign policy, half-heartedly applied, if at all. Assad will do what he wants. He knows there is nothing going to happen to him.
3
Well, eventually Assad is going to die, and I for one hope it's brutally, at the hands of the people he slaughtered and oppressed. Kadaffy style.
While Syria gave up its chemical weapons, no such pledge came from the well-supplied terrorist groups in the country. This is sounding like Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. The justification for another invasion? They have not given up on Assad. Some people want Libya and Iraq many times all over the Middle East. You cannot trust those who are pushing for a "redesigned" and chaotic ME. Isn't the horror of Libya enough already? the destruction of the nation Iraq and now the ongoing destruction of Syria is really tragic. Syria is under attack by the worst of terrorists forces, ISIS, Al Qaeda and others we don't even know about. And yet, those are the people who will control that territory, no longer a country, if the Syrian government is violently overthrown.
9
Why did the US go after Assad in the first place? It helped create ISIS. Did the US need the ISIS enemy that badly? If Obama can't give a straight answer, ask HRC, she was his Sec of State & in on the destabilization. Cui bono?
8
Not our business, not our job, not our war. We need to get out and stay out of these cancerous countries.
5
Were those traces of banned chemicals or traces of a red line?
2
Germany along with the Allies used chemical weapons in WWI. How many were tried as war criminals for their use?
Not too many I think.
Not too many I think.
These are all obvious lies.
The US-Saudi-Turkish alliance wants to topple Assad, and the US is now shipping heavy weapons to terrorists. As the real father of al Qaeda, the Saudis must be chucking to see the US resume its role as terrorist paymaster.
American taxpayer money is now funding and arming the Nusra Front and other terror groups.
If Assad is toppled, what was Syria will become Waziristan West.
Obama is proving to be a stupid as Bush, Bush Lite.
"Liberator" of Libya.
The US-Saudi-Turkish alliance wants to topple Assad, and the US is now shipping heavy weapons to terrorists. As the real father of al Qaeda, the Saudis must be chucking to see the US resume its role as terrorist paymaster.
American taxpayer money is now funding and arming the Nusra Front and other terror groups.
If Assad is toppled, what was Syria will become Waziristan West.
Obama is proving to be a stupid as Bush, Bush Lite.
"Liberator" of Libya.
9
Lets get this tattoo on our foreheads, "It's not our fight ,they will hate us more, we are broke, and remember Libya".
5
We've seen this movie before. There may have been chemical weapons, like those Sadaam used (purchased from us) but we don't know if they're leftover or what & besides there's no penalty. Stoking us up against Assad again--why? They must need more war money, for imaginary moderate anti-Assad rebels.
We're still allied w/ Saudi and Turkey to oust Assad and turn Syria completely lawless, leaving jihadists in charge and fighting each other endlessly. Assad is secular and not a pacifist but hardly the worst. Why suddenly did he have to go? Libya looked like Eden under Ghadaffi compared to now. See Yemen.
Look what happens to any country once we get involved.
You'd think destabilization and selling weaponry to all sides was the point. And exploiting resources as best we can of course.
Doesn't everyone understand yet that we have no moral high ground and really cannot claim it again after Iraq, torture, drone and contracted killings?Yet onward we go, our military never admitting their 'plan'. So let's pour more millions into this fiasco that makes Vietnam look brief. This seems set up to be endless, a neocon dream. Israel can sleep tight knowing all its neighbors are in civil wars whereas Israel & Jordan, SA and Gulf states, even Iran all have common interest in defeating ISIS and Al Queda. For once they all have a common foe and could work together (and learn a lot from one another if ego could be put aside).
But we hear no anit-war message, ever.
We're still allied w/ Saudi and Turkey to oust Assad and turn Syria completely lawless, leaving jihadists in charge and fighting each other endlessly. Assad is secular and not a pacifist but hardly the worst. Why suddenly did he have to go? Libya looked like Eden under Ghadaffi compared to now. See Yemen.
Look what happens to any country once we get involved.
You'd think destabilization and selling weaponry to all sides was the point. And exploiting resources as best we can of course.
Doesn't everyone understand yet that we have no moral high ground and really cannot claim it again after Iraq, torture, drone and contracted killings?Yet onward we go, our military never admitting their 'plan'. So let's pour more millions into this fiasco that makes Vietnam look brief. This seems set up to be endless, a neocon dream. Israel can sleep tight knowing all its neighbors are in civil wars whereas Israel & Jordan, SA and Gulf states, even Iran all have common interest in defeating ISIS and Al Queda. For once they all have a common foe and could work together (and learn a lot from one another if ego could be put aside).
But we hear no anit-war message, ever.
15
Hard to believe this is the very same Bashar al Assad that George W. Bush subcontracted torture to.
10
Unfortunately, one smells a rat in this piece. Instead of factual reporting, it is full of sloppy allegations. Just as during the lead up to the Iraq war we have anonymous “diplomats and officials” saying “traces of banned toxic chemicals” were found, although later on we learn that “There is no evidence that banned materials were used in weapons after Syria signed the treaty, or that Syria possesses sufficient quantities to use in future weapons."
The article boldly states: “The Syrian government was held responsible for a series of chemical weapons attacks…” That allegation has not been proven and there has been plenty of evidence showing that in fact the terrorists used chemicals in order to force a US attack on Syria following President Obama’s red line. The article alleges: “Already there is mounting evidence that Mr. Assad’s forces had violated the terms of the international treaty banning use of chemical weapons.” Where is the evidence for that? The Kurds have reported the use of chlorine by ISIS terrorists. If they are using chlorine in their war against the Kurds why can’s they be using it in Syria?
What is happening in the Middle East is the most horrendous form of terrorism supported by some US “allies” against their opponents, and those regimes should be held to account instead of being feted at Camp David. After having been bitten once, NYT should be careful not to present unsubstantiated allegations as facts.
The article boldly states: “The Syrian government was held responsible for a series of chemical weapons attacks…” That allegation has not been proven and there has been plenty of evidence showing that in fact the terrorists used chemicals in order to force a US attack on Syria following President Obama’s red line. The article alleges: “Already there is mounting evidence that Mr. Assad’s forces had violated the terms of the international treaty banning use of chemical weapons.” Where is the evidence for that? The Kurds have reported the use of chlorine by ISIS terrorists. If they are using chlorine in their war against the Kurds why can’s they be using it in Syria?
What is happening in the Middle East is the most horrendous form of terrorism supported by some US “allies” against their opponents, and those regimes should be held to account instead of being feted at Camp David. After having been bitten once, NYT should be careful not to present unsubstantiated allegations as facts.
17
Weakness and indecisiveness in the American presidency is never forgiven or forgotten! Obama's action in 2012 in failing to strike Syria for its use of chemical weapons, after promising to do so, has irrevocably marked his presidency for the worse. Unfortunately, Obama is now viewed by his enemies as well as those few allies he has left in the ME as a pushover, a "petite nature." This general perception can only aggravate an already deteriorating state of affairs. The late Edmond Jouhaud, the only native pied noir general (he was born in the small town of Bou Sefer in Algeria), who was part of the "quarteron" or quartet of French officers who staged the putsch of April 1961, intended to overthrow De Gaulle and save French Algeria, would often quote to me the Arab maxim:" Donnes un baiser a la main qui te frappe, mais craches sur la main qui te caresse (Kiss the hand that strikes you; spit on the hand that caresses you)!" At this point in his presidency it is too late to change the image that ME leaders have of Obama as a hopeless novice.Even an agreement with Iran to delay her efforts to weaponize her uranium stocks and prevent her from making a nuclear bomb could not save his reputation and insure a good legacy. Too bad. I like Obama, voted for him twice and even for John Kerry as well. Thus, I am a life long Democrat, but a profoundly disappointed one.
5
I must very sadly agree with Mr. Harrison. I am a life long liberal democrat and served my country in literally dozens of countries, many of them in the Middle East. I believe our President, a man I enthusiastically voted for twice, has confused his hopes for a better, reasonable world with the ugly realities of the murderers and thugs who occupy center stage in the Middle East. It is time to take what our military calls "kinetic action" against Mr. Assad's regime - a tightly focused, preemptive surgical strike at the assets that control and command Assad's chemical weapons deployment capabilities. This action would not only send a stark and completely unambigouous message to the killers in Damascus, but would also put the government of Iran on notice that we are not to be trifled with. Unfortunately, I do not believe that President Obama will have the moxie to make such a decision.
3
Another murderous thug makes a fool out of Obama. Big surprise. But don't worry, the Iranian mullahs are MUCH more trustworthy.
6
Banned chemical weapons - chlorine barrel bombs, ricin, sarin - being used by the Syrian regime in their civil war, which shows no signs of ending - this is a horrific throwback to the First World War when so many Americans and French and British forces were gassed in Belleau Wood and at Chateau Thierry. The United Nations (the DIS-united Nations) Security Council members - "hamstrung" - have their mouths shut with duct tape so as not to stir up Syria's ally Russia, which wields the veto. Bashar al-Assad has violated the deal, brokered by the US and Russia, signed by him in 2013 , agreeing to dismantle his country's arsenal of chemical weapons. Aren't four years of war and the hundreds of thousands of Syrians murdered by their President, reason enough to send in some boots on the ground from somewhere to end Mr. Assad's bloody reign? The United Nations is as ineffective as was the League of Nations during World War I when Germans gassed their enemies in that war, before they did the same to enemies of the Reich in World War II. International inspectors,though they may be inspecting in Syria, aren't assuring us that anything at all will be done to curb the use of chlorine gas, ricin and sarin in Syria today.
Should we be surprised at this report, no. As the reader AACNY before me expressed perfectly "these deals mean nothing in the Middle East" is exactly right. Assad, his opponents, the Russians, Iranians - what a motley crew of actors we have to contend with or do we? Can't we just let them fight to a conclusion, may the best actor win and then step in?
I thought Mr. Obama and his Sec. of State, Vlad Putin, had told us the chemical weapons issue was addressed.
Heck of a job, Mr. President.
Heck of a job, Mr. President.
4
Really, does anyone care to distinguish a weapon here? We know nothing of the war in Syria but that it is a disaster, and mayhem. What is the object of this piling on? Certainly it's bad news, but just a raindrop in a typhoon.
3
In how many crises, like Syria, has international action been stymied by the intransigence of a permanent member of the U. N. Security Council? I'd like to see our country throw down a challenge: end the veto power of the permanent members. Let the Security Council act like a democracy, with a majority or perhaps some supermajority dictating action. Let China or Russia defend their obstructionism, and let other nations demonstrate that they have the will to tackle the tough issues.
5
Crossing 'redline' rhetoric never worked in Syria. Lot of proponents of Assad in the 'west' could contest again that though he has used CWs 18 times in the past and using chlorine gas now but Assad is 'secularist' and 'modernistic'. So Assad could get away with it as 'Daesh' and 'AL Nusra front, despised by 'east' and 'west', are against him. Assad could get away with genocide, murder, torture....all the atrocities under the sky because he is considered to be so called 'modernistic' and 'secularist'. 'western' duplicity and hypocrisy at best!!!!
3
The PNAC, headed by pro-Israeli neo-cons, listed these countries whose secular Governments needed to be taken out: Iraq, Syria, Libya; and of course Iran. They have succeeded in Iraq and Libya, and they are on the verge of succeeding in Syria, a secular nation which used to have a high standard of living, and a 95% literacy rate. The neo-cons will not rest till the entire Middle-East is rubble and desolation and millions have died. That is why Israel is helping the ISIS militants against Assad. America beware of opening Pandora's chest. The consequences for America and the world will not be pretty.
9
Next we'll get breathy reports of yellow cake uranium--anything to crank up the US war machine.
16
Where did these weapons come from? There should be an investigation of that! The distribution of these weapons is a crime against humanity. I would not be surprised to find their sources somewhere in our own back yard from a decade ago. Will the war profiteers please step up and take credit? Who manufactures these? Is it rocket science to trace them? I doubt it.
17
There have been repeated reports of Assad's continued use of chemical weapons.
These deals mean nothing in the Middle East. Like his deal with the Syrians/Russians, Obama's deal with the Iranians will be equally meaningless.
These deals mean nothing in the Middle East. Like his deal with the Syrians/Russians, Obama's deal with the Iranians will be equally meaningless.
4
I submitted a one word comment earlier, too small for publication..."War".
I can't help but be reminded of Southern Poverty Law Center's early mail in anti-gun campaign propaganda photos. Always full of obvious inconsistencies to the experienced rifleman. I have difficulty believing anyone not requiring assistance would be walking from away from such an event, even uphill, as in the photo. Real or not, it reminds me of an LP album cover.
I can't help but be reminded of Southern Poverty Law Center's early mail in anti-gun campaign propaganda photos. Always full of obvious inconsistencies to the experienced rifleman. I have difficulty believing anyone not requiring assistance would be walking from away from such an event, even uphill, as in the photo. Real or not, it reminds me of an LP album cover.
When all the contending forces, global and regional, are busy fighting proxy wars in the Middle East making a mockery of international law and norms what purpose would be served if new revelations about the Syrian secrets about the banned chemical weapons are made?
4
beginning of a causus belli for war?
Use chemical weapons either against enemy combatants or your own people is totally atrocious and inhuman. If Mr.Assad is found guilty, steps should be taken to bring him to justice before International Court of Justice. Russia should not support Mr.Assad blindly.
It is truly shocking that even at this point of our civilization, when overall literacy rate in the world stands at a good point, man is killing his own species. I would say, it is because of ego of a few politicians in Syria, Palestine, Israel, Russia or the United States, that many parts of the world is burning. I wonder when all this madness will stop.
It is truly shocking that even at this point of our civilization, when overall literacy rate in the world stands at a good point, man is killing his own species. I would say, it is because of ego of a few politicians in Syria, Palestine, Israel, Russia or the United States, that many parts of the world is burning. I wonder when all this madness will stop.
4
WW II dodger Ronald Reagan not only allowed Saddam Hussein to buy anthrax in this country and precursors to make sarin, the Eureka College guy cheerleader gave Saddam Hussein satellite imagery to improve his use of chemical WMD's on Iran.
Then Viet Nam dodger, prep school guy cheerleader, George W. Bush subcontracts torture to, among others, the very same Bashar al Assad of Syria.
Then Viet Nam dodger, prep school guy cheerleader, George W. Bush subcontracts torture to, among others, the very same Bashar al Assad of Syria.
3
Reagan not only allowed Saddam Hussein to buy anthrax in the US, he gave him satellite imagery to improve his use of chemical WMD's against Iran.
Likewise, George W. Bush, subcontracted torture to, among others, the very same Bashar al Assad of Syria.
Likewise, George W. Bush, subcontracted torture to, among others, the very same Bashar al Assad of Syria.
We sure showed em! Assad can kill well over 200,000 people, create millions of refugees, provide a seedbed for ISIS, and the world just sits by and watches.
Traces of chemical weapons? Stop the presses! Send in the inspectors! Assad violated his agreement! The shame of it all!
Meanwhile the killing continues. Perhaps we should reorder our priorities.
Traces of chemical weapons? Stop the presses! Send in the inspectors! Assad violated his agreement! The shame of it all!
Meanwhile the killing continues. Perhaps we should reorder our priorities.
9
For the Obama Administration, the priority is avoidance and to find the occasional "success story" talking point to quiet those who feel we should be doing more. He will talk his way through his final term and leave the mess -- including a string of relationships in disarray -- for the next president to contend with.
Unfortunately, his talking points (Benghazi, Syria, ISIS) have been particularly weak and have blown up rather spectacularly.
Unfortunately, his talking points (Benghazi, Syria, ISIS) have been particularly weak and have blown up rather spectacularly.
3
Don't forget Yemen, that shining example of success cited by Obama.
This is what happens when the ruler of the free world declares that Assad "crossed a red line" and then delivers no consequences to those actions. So now we have Assad murdering his own people, leveling his own cities, and creating a vacuum for radical Islamic fundamentalism. The people of Syria would rather fight for ISIS then be torn apart by barrel bombs everyday. Aleppo, Hama, Homs and many more cities have been flattened by Assad and over half of the population has been displaced. If the West had acted in 2012 when this terrible atrocity began then we may have never even heard of ISIS in Syria and we wouldn't be faced with one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent history.
8
James;
Ruler of the free world wanted Syria to go this way..'hats off' to him for his foresightedness!!!!
Ruler of the free world wanted Syria to go this way..'hats off' to him for his foresightedness!!!!
1
Chemical weapons found in peace-loving Syria? Well, I'm just shocked, shocked.
8
No weapons were found only "traces" of the chemicals.
2
Have we not heard this before from some very respectable journalist and not just the neocons. We have heard this before the invasion of Iraq from the neocons and pro Israeli lobby including Bibi Netanyahu the current Prime Minister of Israel.
Slow down and look ad what the long term implications are for dislodging Assad at this time. Probably and ISIS/Al-Qaeda nexus and take over of Syria with all its weaponry and weapon system. Would Israel be safer with Al-Qaeda and ISIS at the helms in Syria, the answer could be Yes only if these animals are nurtured by the Israelis.
I wonder how many of us would want ISIS and Al-Qaeda to control all of Syria and part of Iraq.
Think before you start believing the unnamed and private sources from anywhere.
Slow down and look ad what the long term implications are for dislodging Assad at this time. Probably and ISIS/Al-Qaeda nexus and take over of Syria with all its weaponry and weapon system. Would Israel be safer with Al-Qaeda and ISIS at the helms in Syria, the answer could be Yes only if these animals are nurtured by the Israelis.
I wonder how many of us would want ISIS and Al-Qaeda to control all of Syria and part of Iraq.
Think before you start believing the unnamed and private sources from anywhere.
34
No nation, no superpower can really do anything to fix the situation in Syria; what they can do is assist war refugees who, rightfully, want to get out of there.
18
I still say that Israel should give the Golan Heights back to Syria...Syria's a peaceful and just nation and they can be believed that they will not shell Israel from the Golan as they did prior to 1967.
10
Well what are they waiting for. In 2 years Syria will not exist. This will be followed by Yemen and Libya. A great start to the total obliteration of Arab Islam. We must find away to accelerate the war. Arming both sides is optimal.
9
Perhaps you should read Moshe Dayan's speech as to how difficult it was for him to get the Syrians to fire on the encroaching Israelis. Dayan was trying to provoke a causus belli to invade Syria and steal the Golan Heights.
Don't worry. Obama's red line was erased long ago. Nothing to see here. Move along; move along. And it will be the same story as soon as Iran starts violating Obama's latest play thing to burnish a debatable legacy -- his Iran nuclear deal.
12
And thank God that the red line was erased. Would you prefer that the America and NATO actually be involved directly in that mess? No thank you. The chemical weapons agreement was a fantastic way for the West (and Russia) to save face and for Assad to not get obliterated. It probably would've worked out equally terribly for the Syrian people had Assad been instantly removed by cruise missiles, any notion that 'moderate rebels' would have controlled the country after his ouster is a pipedream.
4
Yes Alpha, the situation is so much better there now since Obama decided to blink. And that's not counting the several thousand ISIS sleeper terrorists now in the US regardless according to the FBI director' statement last week.
Really, I had to read to the 13th paragraph get to the most important part of the article?
"As for the new discovery of traces of banned chemicals, it is not necessarily grounds for punitive action by the Security Council, officials said. There is no evidence that banned materials were used in weapons after Syria signed the treaty, or that Syria possesses sufficient quantities to use in future weapons."
"As for the new discovery of traces of banned chemicals, it is not necessarily grounds for punitive action by the Security Council, officials said. There is no evidence that banned materials were used in weapons after Syria signed the treaty, or that Syria possesses sufficient quantities to use in future weapons."
46
It is impossible during war to investigate who is using these chemicals. The claim is always that the other side is using them.
3
Why don't America stay out of this conflict. America is helping the crisis even more by training these rebels. America should have never tried to overthrow Bashar Al-Assad. He was the most secular leader for Syria. It is like this folks who would you rather lead Syria ISIS or a secular Assad. I think I will take Assad over them.
46
One of the central claims of the story, that Syria is dropping chlorine bombs on the opposition, is based on the following: '"While the Syrian government has denied using chlorine or any chemical as a weapon, only the government has access to the helicopters that witnesses say are being used . . ." Really, only the the Syrian government has access to helicopters? What about Turkey just across its border? Were no helicopters captured by ISIS when the Iraqi Army collapsed last summer? What Kurdish reports of ISIS using chlorine bombs against the pesh merga?
28
You forgot to explain why the Turks would drop chlorine gas on Syrian rebels, whom they are helping them: a million of them in Southern Turkey, and US and The Turkey training some of the moderate forces.
5
@M. Maloney: I actually don't think that ISIS captured any Iraqi helicopters. Even if it did, it would need trained pilots, access to repair/maintenance facilities, etc. Also, it would be pretty common knowledge that it was operating helicopters. So we can pretty much rule that out.
As for Turkey, of course it has helicopters, but why would it want to drop chlorine on Syrian insurgents? Especially since it has generally kept its armed forces out of Syrian territory so far? That just makes no sense.
As for your last sentence, those alleged attacks did not involve helicopters, which, again, ISIS does not operate.
As for Turkey, of course it has helicopters, but why would it want to drop chlorine on Syrian insurgents? Especially since it has generally kept its armed forces out of Syrian territory so far? That just makes no sense.
As for your last sentence, those alleged attacks did not involve helicopters, which, again, ISIS does not operate.
9
'As for Turkey, of course it has helicopters, but why would it want to drop chlorine on Syrian insurgents? Especially since it has generally kept its armed forces out of Syrian territory so far? That just makes no sense.'
*****
Well, let's just say with Saudi and Qatari funds, a semi-dictator like Erdogan of Turkey, would do anything to topple Assad.
Let's not forget, hundreds of trailer loads of ammunition and weaponry has been flooding into hands of so called 'moderate Islamic rebels such as Al Nusra et el' under direct orders of Erdogan. Turkish gendarme had found chlorine and sarin gas producing shops over the last few years.
Where do you think this chlorine gas would go to?..
*****
Well, let's just say with Saudi and Qatari funds, a semi-dictator like Erdogan of Turkey, would do anything to topple Assad.
Let's not forget, hundreds of trailer loads of ammunition and weaponry has been flooding into hands of so called 'moderate Islamic rebels such as Al Nusra et el' under direct orders of Erdogan. Turkish gendarme had found chlorine and sarin gas producing shops over the last few years.
Where do you think this chlorine gas would go to?..
1