If you ignore the author the article itself makes a very valid point. Must be hipster thing these days to get behind dictators .
US/UK/France launch airstrikes in Syria
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Agreed.
Are you sure? There were negotiations to that end, and various factions were leaving Eastern Ghouta as of April 1st:
https://sana.sy/en/?p=132915
http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=88545Pro-regime news source said:
anti-regime news source said:
By the 5th of April these disagreements appear to have come to a head:
http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=88579
https://sana.sy/en/?p=133069anti-regime news source said:
Pro-regime news source said:
And then by the 6th of April all sources confirm that regime targeting of Douma had resumed:
https://sana.sy/en/?p=133207
http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=88739Pro-regime news source said:
Anti-regime news source said:
By the 7th, the day on which the chemical attack was said to have taken place, pro-regime media had this to say:
Last edited:
You mean like they did against "Hezbollah" 2006 when less than 5000 of their soldies beat 35, 000 israelies who had air and ground cover with a far superior
Yep the last splinter were still holding out which delayed complete removal. However if the regime wanted to wipe them out at the cost of many hundreds even thousands of civilians they could have done so with conventional weapons. Using chemical weapons that killed 40 people randomly is not serving a tactical nor any strategical purpose.
What really needs to be exposed here is why chemical weapons are being singled out because conditional ones are far more destructive and have exponentially killed thousands more. Are the families going to grieve any less are the people going to come back?
The number is alledged 40 people now which has shrunk from 150. Yet we have far more than that getting killed by the US and it’s alloes in drone attacks but that’s ok, mistakes happen, “collateral damage and all that” look at what the israilies are doing, when are we going to bomb them for there use of chemical weapons against people who have been forced inside the worlds biggest open air prison?
Israel could demolish Hezbollah if they wanted to. No one with any knowledge of the capabilities of both sides disputes this. The only reason they have not done so to date is the international blowback it would entail. With Trump in office, that problem has been removed so any attempt by Hezbollah or the Quds force to agitate towards Israel will likely be met with a strong response.
Last edited:
Or maybe they're concerned about the vacuum they'd create if they got rid of Hezbollah?
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
That’s not weird at all. Nope. Nothing to see here.
Any innocent explanation for this @antihenry?
Its pretty obvious what they are doing. If you can delay access you can obscure the accuracy of the tests and then either claim it was all a big exaggeration or didn't happen at all. Assad did this with the Sarin attack in 2013 as well.
The problem is, in the ongoing arms race between weapon systems, and counter weapon systems, tanks vs anti-tank, planes vs anti-plane, the counter systems are cheaper, effective through volume, and ultimately winning.
This is why an Israeli war against Hezbollah is far more costly for Israel than it is for Hezbollah, and that was shown with the 2006 war. Hezbollah engaged in guerilla tactics, and inflicted significant tank incapacitations on the Israelis, to the point that the Israelis eventually became operationally paralyzed. Credit to the Merkavas, very few were actually KO'd, but there were a lot of incapacitations which stole their impetus. The Hezbollah war in 2006, was a pretty valuable proving ground for Iranian and Russian anti-tank weapon systems. It showed that their anti-tank systems could quite adequately deal with the worlds most armored MBT, and it's a lot cheaper to produce RPG-29's, 30's, Saegres, Konkurs and Fagots, than it is to produce a Merkava. Sure, Israel would win, but it would be a bloody, costly, and protracted war, and Israel doesn't exactly have a large population to be involved in a protracted guerilla war. It's why Israel tends to be a 0-100 type country when it comes to war. They have to go all in, immediately, and inflict as much shock damage as possible, as quickly as possible, so they can end the war as quickly as possible. They are not built for a prolonged engagement.
The Israelis could've bombed them to timbuktu. The only thing constraining them was international reaction. That constraint has now been lifted.
Leave Timbuktu out of this, they have enough with AQIM.
https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/heute-19-uhr/videos/zitat-sgs-gack-syrien-100.html
Uli Gack, a correspondent of the German state-run Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) broadcaster has visited the Damascus countryside [Douma is lcoated near it] and has found that refugees from Douma say that the April 7 chemical attack was “staged”.
“People told us in a very convincing manner that this whole story was staged,” he told, adding that he visited the refugee camps near Damascus, where “some 20,000 people from Eastern Ghouta and particularly from Douma” had been placed. According to Gack quoting witnesses, the scene of the April 7 “chemical attack” was in fact the “command post” of a local militant group. The corresponded added that, according to the locals, militants brought canisters containing chlorine to the area and “actually waited for the Syrian Air Force to bomb the place, which was of particular interest for them.”
The locals added that it had not been the first provocation staged by militants. According to other local sources quoted by the correspondent, militants deliberately exposed people to chemical agents during what they called “training exercises”. The videos filmed during such “exercises” were later presented as an “evidence” of the alleged chemical attack in Douma. Gack concluded by saying that he cannot verify the local’s statements and cannot say if they are all true. However, he called them quite “convincing”.
Uli Gack, a correspondent of the German state-run Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) broadcaster has visited the Damascus countryside [Douma is lcoated near it] and has found that refugees from Douma say that the April 7 chemical attack was “staged”.
“People told us in a very convincing manner that this whole story was staged,” he told, adding that he visited the refugee camps near Damascus, where “some 20,000 people from Eastern Ghouta and particularly from Douma” had been placed. According to Gack quoting witnesses, the scene of the April 7 “chemical attack” was in fact the “command post” of a local militant group. The corresponded added that, according to the locals, militants brought canisters containing chlorine to the area and “actually waited for the Syrian Air Force to bomb the place, which was of particular interest for them.”
The locals added that it had not been the first provocation staged by militants. According to other local sources quoted by the correspondent, militants deliberately exposed people to chemical agents during what they called “training exercises”. The videos filmed during such “exercises” were later presented as an “evidence” of the alleged chemical attack in Douma. Gack concluded by saying that he cannot verify the local’s statements and cannot say if they are all true. However, he called them quite “convincing”.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Last edited:
Syria crisis: Western countries plan to bypass Russia's UN veto over Douma chemical attack.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...pons-civil-war-general-assembly-a8319821.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...pons-civil-war-general-assembly-a8319821.html
Russia parades Syrian 'witnesses' to prove 'what really happened' in Douma.
https://news.sky.com/story/russia-p...-prove-what-really-happened-in-douma-11347684
British propaganda piece. We can't prove anything but we'll bomb whoever we want. God forbid, someone decides to make us look bad by presenting witnesses of the actual event who say things that don't fit our version of reality.
https://news.sky.com/story/russia-p...-prove-what-really-happened-in-douma-11347684
British propaganda piece. We can't prove anything but we'll bomb whoever we want. God forbid, someone decides to make us look bad by presenting witnesses of the actual event who say things that don't fit our version of reality.
Russia and the regime really need to get their propaganda better aligned. Because they’re making each other look stupid...
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
The sponsors aren't happy with how their money's been spent and who can blame them.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-freezes-funding-for-syrias-white-helmets/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-freezes-funding-for-syrias-white-helmets/
OPCW Issues Fact-Finding Mission Reports on Chemical Weapons Use Allegations in Douma, Syria in 2018 and in Al-Hamadaniya and Karm Al-Tarrab in 2016.
https://www.opcw.org/news/article/o...-in-al-hamadaniya-and-karm-al-tarrab-in-2016/
THE HAGUE, Netherlands —6 July 2018—The Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), issued an interim report on the FFM’s investigation to date regarding the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma, Syria on 7 April 2018.
The FFM’s activities in Douma included on-site visits to collect environmental samples, interviews with witnesses, data collection. In a neighbouring country, the FFM team gathered or received biological and environmental samples, and conducted witness interviews.
OPCW designated labs conducted analysis of prioritised samples. The results show that no organophosphorous nerve agents or their degradation products were detected in the environmental samples or in the plasma samples taken from alleged casualties. Along with explosive residues, various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two sites, for which there is full chain of custody. Work by the team to establish the significance of these results is on-going. The FFM team will continue its work to draw final conclusions.
The Fact-Finding Mission also issued a report on 2 July 2018 addressing allegations of chemical weapons use in Al-Hamadaniya, Syria on 30 October 2016, and Karm al-Tarrab, Syria on 13 November 2016. On the basis of the information received and analysed, the prevailing narrative of the interviews, and the results of the laboratory analyses, the FFM cannot confidently determine whether or not a specific chemical was used as a weapon in the incidents that took place in the neighbourhood of Al-Hamadaniyah and in the area of Karm al-Tarrab. The FFM noted that the persons affected in the reported incidents may, in some instances, have been exposed to some type of non-persistent, irritating substance.
The FFM’s reports on the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma, Al-Hamadaniya, and Karm Al-Tarrab have been shared with States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The reports were also transmitted to the UN Security Council through the UN Secretary-General.
https://www.opcw.org/news/article/o...-in-al-hamadaniya-and-karm-al-tarrab-in-2016/
THE HAGUE, Netherlands —6 July 2018—The Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), issued an interim report on the FFM’s investigation to date regarding the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma, Syria on 7 April 2018.
The FFM’s activities in Douma included on-site visits to collect environmental samples, interviews with witnesses, data collection. In a neighbouring country, the FFM team gathered or received biological and environmental samples, and conducted witness interviews.
OPCW designated labs conducted analysis of prioritised samples. The results show that no organophosphorous nerve agents or their degradation products were detected in the environmental samples or in the plasma samples taken from alleged casualties. Along with explosive residues, various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from two sites, for which there is full chain of custody. Work by the team to establish the significance of these results is on-going. The FFM team will continue its work to draw final conclusions.
The Fact-Finding Mission also issued a report on 2 July 2018 addressing allegations of chemical weapons use in Al-Hamadaniya, Syria on 30 October 2016, and Karm al-Tarrab, Syria on 13 November 2016. On the basis of the information received and analysed, the prevailing narrative of the interviews, and the results of the laboratory analyses, the FFM cannot confidently determine whether or not a specific chemical was used as a weapon in the incidents that took place in the neighbourhood of Al-Hamadaniyah and in the area of Karm al-Tarrab. The FFM noted that the persons affected in the reported incidents may, in some instances, have been exposed to some type of non-persistent, irritating substance.
The FFM’s reports on the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma, Al-Hamadaniya, and Karm Al-Tarrab have been shared with States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The reports were also transmitted to the UN Security Council through the UN Secretary-General.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Interesting you chose to highlight that particular tweet, and not the one preceding it which confirms the attack took place and approvingly links to a meticulously researched article which determines that “At least one chemical attack did take place in Douma on April 7, and people died as a result. There could have been no other culprit but a Syrian army helicopter.”
Looks like the tweet two posts up has been deleted.
I cannot see the tweet anymore, the guy's account has been switched to private all of a sudden.
https://twitter.com/Dalatrm?protected_redirect=true
As for what actually happened, here's the article mentioned in the initial tweet.
https://theintercept.com/2019/02/09/douma-chemical-attack-evidence-syria/
The journalist is obviously biased, for example he mentions contacting Higgins from Bellingscat for information (it's like calling Russia Today for comment). Still, at least he's making an attempt at figuring out what has been going on in Syria amid the propaganda warfare from all sides.
https://twitter.com/Dalatrm?protected_redirect=true
If I wanted to do it on purpose, I wouldn't be posting the actual tweet. I just pointed out the incident at the Douma hospital, which was used in the infamous White Helmets video and was proclaimed as evidence of Assad's people chemical attack on the city residents. It was spread all across the internet and was used as a PR excuse for airstrikes from NATO that followed. At the time it was a widespread propaganda piece.
As for what actually happened, here's the article mentioned in the initial tweet.
https://theintercept.com/2019/02/09/douma-chemical-attack-evidence-syria/
The journalist is obviously biased, for example he mentions contacting Higgins from Bellingscat for information (it's like calling Russia Today for comment). Still, at least he's making an attempt at figuring out what has been going on in Syria amid the propaganda warfare from all sides.
He gives as much if not more time to Postol - who has conducted ‘research’ with Maram Susli - as he does Higgins, clearly attempting to give equal weight to two voices who have opposed each other’s interpretations of previous chemical attacks. Never mind RT, that’s like calling InfoWars for comment (Susli has been a guest and contributor on Infowars).
It’s a strange article in that the density of the detail given tends to emphasize the confusion, manipulation and propaganda of both sides rather than focusing on the most crucial question - “who was responsible?”. Still he can’t avoid the conclusion that the regime was responsible. Hence, he’s taking shit from all sides.
With all due respect your sources more often than not are from or heavily linked to RT and Sputnik. The Intercept is about as independent as WikiLeaks these days as Greenwald has done an Assange and turned into a Russian Propaganda machine.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
A dissenting group of scientists and others recently published online what they say is a report prepared by an employee of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
You can access the report here. http://syriapropagandamedia.org/wp-...-at-the-Douma-incident-27-February-2019-1.pdf
It strongly suggests that supposed gas cylinders found in bombed buildings in Douma, Syria, were *not* dropped by helicopters on those buildings. May I stress that I offer no alternative explanation as to how they got there. I have no information on this. The condition of these cylinders was simply not consistent with the idea that they had been dropped from helicopters and had then pierced the roof of the building where they were found.
But its findings do not seem to have been taken into account in the OPCW’s final report on the event, discussed here in my March 9th article.
https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.c...-of-poison-gas-at-douma-syria-april-2018.html
If this is so., it seems to me to be very shocking.
For, as I said in my March 9th article ‘On the subject of the cylinders it says physical evidence was ‘consistent’ with the view that the cylinders had passed through the concrete roof of the building in which they were found.
The text states: ‘2.12 Two yellow industrial cylinders dedicated for pressurised gas with dimensions of approximately 1.4 x 0.4 meters were observed by the FFM team at two separate locations (Locations 2 and 4). 7 2.13 The team analysed the available material and consulted independent experts in mechanical engineering, ballistics and metallurgy who utilised specialised computer modelling techniques to provide qualified and competent assessments of the trajectory and damage to the cylinders found at Locations 2 and 4. 2.14 The analyses indicated that the structural damage to the rebar-reinforced concrete terrace at Location 2 was caused by an impacting object with a geometrically symmetric shape and sufficient kinetic energy to cause the observed damage. The analyses indicate that the damage observed on the cylinder found on the roof-top terrace, the aperture, the balcony, the surrounding rooms, the rooms underneath and the structure above, is consistent with the creation of the aperture observed in the terrace by the cylinder found in that location. 2.15 At Location 4, the results of the studies indicated that the shape of the aperture produced in the modulation matched the shape and damage observed by the team. The studies further indicated that, after passing through the ceiling and impacting the floor at lower speed, the cylinder continued an altered trajectory, until reaching the position in which it was found. 2.16 Based on the analysis results of the samples taken by the FFM from the cylinders, their proximity at both locations, as well as the analysis results of the samples mentioned under paragraph 2.6, it is possible that the cylinders were the source of the substances containing reactive chlorine. ’
This section is important because the alleged dropping of these cylinders by a Syrian military helicopter is at the centre of the narrative espoused by those who argue that Syria did use poison gas at Douma last April.
The leaked document differs sharply from this. SO I set out first of all to discover if the OPCW disputed the claim that the leaked document came from within its organisation. As you will see from the response below (As it is mostly flannel, I have highlighted the key words), it does not dispute this. I also asked them to confirm that its named author was in fact an OPCW employee. As you will see from the response below, it declined to confirm the latter. I think, if it had wished to do so, it could have disowned the name person.
I have received the following reply from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons:
‘The OPCW establishes facts surrounding allegations of the use of toxic chemicals for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic through the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), which was set up in 2014.
The OPCW Technical Secretariat reaffirms that the FFM complies with established methodologies and practices to ensure the integrity of its findings. The FFM takes into account all available, relevant, and reliable information and analysis within the scope of its mandate to determine its findings.
Per standard practice, the FFM draws expertise from different divisions across the Technical Secretariat as needed. All information was taken into account, deliberated, and weighed when formulating the final report regarding the incident in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, on 7 April 2018. On 1 March 2019, the OPCW issued its final report on this incident, signed by the Director-General.
Per OPCW rules and regulations, and in order to ensure the privacy, safety, and security of personnel, the OPCW does not provide information about individual staff members of the Technical Secretariat.
Pursuant to its established policies and practices, the OPCW Technical Secretariat is conducting an internal investigation about the unauthorised release of the document in question.(my emphasis, PH)
At this time, there is no further public information on this matter and the OPCW is unable to accommodate requests for interviews.’
I thank the OPCW for confirming that the document is genuine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a pretty huge development in what could have led to multi-facet international chaos and war....yet not a single beep in the mainstream media about this as it undermines their initial narrative.
Makes you wonder how many of those "international bodies" are severely compromised to deliver results aligned with interest and agenda of certain international actors and countries.
Only Syria thread I could find.
There is some wonderful work going on in Raqqa right now. They have cleaned the town square (where the beheadings were held) so that it is now a social meeting place for families and now they are clearing the rubble and tackling the roads. Obviously there is still fighting there but it’s a joy to see this.
There is some wonderful work going on in Raqqa right now. They have cleaned the town square (where the beheadings were held) so that it is now a social meeting place for families and now they are clearing the rubble and tackling the roads. Obviously there is still fighting there but it’s a joy to see this.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date