U.S. Launches Missiles at Syria After Chemical Weapons Attack

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Is Assad to blame for the chemical weapons attack in Syria?
Is the regime of President Bashar al-Assad responsible for the chemical weapons attack in northern Syria? Experts suggest it could have been jihadi rebels. It wouldn't be the first time.




More than 80 people were killed by suspected chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun. That is about the only thing certain about the attack. Western statements place blame at the feet of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, an accusation Damascus and Moscow contest.

The Syrian regime may not have had a compelling motive, believes Günther Meyer, the director of the Research Center for the Arab World at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. "Only armed opposition groups could profit from an attack with chemical weapons," he told DW. "With their backs against the wall, they have next to no chance of opposing the regime militarily. As President [Donald] Trump's recent statements show, such actions make it possible for anti-Assad groups to receive further support."

Former President Barack Obama famously drew a "red line" in 2012. "We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus," he said at the time. Meyer views the statement as an "invitation for Assad's opponents to use chemical weapons and make the Assad regime responsible for it."

Rebels' chemical weapons

In 2014, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reported on opposition forces' ability to use chemical weapons. In an article for the "London Review of Books," Hersh obtained documents from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Pentagon's own spy organization. They suggested that the Nusra Front, a Syrian offshoot of al Qaeda, had access to the sarin nerve agent. A chemical weapons attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta in August 2013, which was blamed on Assad, was carried out by rebels, according to Hersh's article. They wanted Washington to presume Assad had crossed Obama's "red line" and draw the US into a war.


There are doubts over whether the suspected chemical weapons strike in Ghouta came from Assad's forces

The Ghouta attack

Obama's Director of National Intelligence at the time, James Clapper, was able to dissuade Obama from ordering a cruise missile strike, according to a newly-published book by Mideast expert Michael Lüders. Presumably, a deciding factor was an analysis of the chemical weapons used in Ghouta, conducted by a British military lab, which found the gas to be of a different composition than the Syrian army possessed.

The attack took place while UN weapons inspectors were in the country, on Assad's invitation, said Meyer. Assad had asked them to investigate a chemical weapons attack from March 2013 outside Aleppo, which killed Syrian soldiers.

"It makes no sense that the regime would carry out an attack with inspectors in the country," he said.


The USS Mahan would be capable of firing missiles on Syria from the Mediterranean Sea

Former weapons inspector Richard Lloyd and MIT professor Theodore Postol cast further doubt on Assad's role in the Ghouta attack. They reported in 2014 that the chemical weapons could have only been fired from rebel-held territory, with a range of up to 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles).

Chemical weapons as a deterrent

At the time of the Ghouta attack, the Syrian government had access to about 600 tons of material necessary to make sarin and mustard gas. The stockpile was to counterbalance Israel's nuclear arsenal, Meyer said. "Israel has an estimated 200 nuclear weapons," he said. "Chemical weapons are something of a poor man's atomic weapon."

The US reported these chemical stockpiles had been destroyed in 2014, although the state of confusion surrounding such a war zone makes that hard to confirm.


In Idlib, the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front maintains significant influence

Al Qaeda's role

No one can say how the situation has evolved since the DIA's assessment in 2013 of the Nusra Front's weapons. The al Qaeda affiliate is today the most significant rebel group in the northern Syrian province of Idlib, Meyer said. Along with other jihadi extremists, it has turned itself into the "de facto ruler of Idlib."

Assad has not hesitated to use ruthless means to stay in power. In confronting the most recent use of chemical weapons in Syria, credible questions remain as to why Assad would bring world opinion against him at a time when his continued rule is beginning to be accepted.

http://www.dw.com/en/is-assad-to-blame-for-the-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/a-38330217

 

As expected! I used Newsweek since it's a never Trump and yet still offered the facts of the situation which shows that they had to be pretty obvious and defied any playing around with the obvious known evidence of the situation. I don't make judgements based upon WHO says it's true or not. In fact I just don't go there to begin with. But this report offered more than opinion. After the pics of the horror of the situation I doubt that there can be too many constituents or regular audience of ANY official or means of "reportage" who, just for this case at least, would not want some kind of stronger signal sent by the U.S. They would look like heartless (and that's always been their fake calling card) terror sympathizers, out in the open!

 

I don;t honestly know what is happening here for certain. I doubt if anyone does really, least of all perhaps President Trump. No more than I know for certain about the strange things going on in our Church. All I, or anyone else can do is pray and weight up the evidence and give it my best shot.

I don't want to come across as a know all.

But taking for granted the devil exists and is working in the world, how would he act. Would he only work in individuals or would he work in groups and Governments?

Well one thing we do know about the devil and the others devils is that they are very,very proud spirits and have their won hierarchy, Satan being top of the heap. This being so , I think he would go for control for managing the top. From top down if you like.

The Holy Spirit as we know from Scripture and Church tends to operate bottom up, with a preference for the poor and lowly, like Our Lady.

I think given this we should not be surprised if he controls Governments and seeks to do this through secret societies. It just seems like the kind of thing he would do. There really is quite a lot of evidence he is in fact doing so. I know this is a conspiracy theory but some conspiracy theories are false and some are true.

I personally believe in the Illuminati because it explains so much. But I don;t blame people for not wanting to believe. It makes for a very,very uncomfortable narrative and changes the whole way we regard reality. So I can understand why people would prefer not to look at these things too closely.

I find the whole thing very uncomfortable myself. But , what can say? I believe it to be true...and felt I should say so.

 

I just returned from Mass and a quote our Priest made had the same ring to it..."We are here to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable".

He went onto state that the comfortable tend to close their minds to the truth.

 

Very good points from both of you. We have very little control over these matters, and the things we do have some over we should certainly take advantage of.

Pray!

 

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Rest in Peace my Christian Comrades!!
We have played the "Wise Monkey" Routine in the West for the past 50 years in part because we need MidEast Oil, partly because the MidEast Oil Cartel has spread lots of $$$$ around to corrupt Western Politicians/Islamic Front Groups and partly because of Kumbaya Bleeding Heart better RagHead than dead godless Liberalism. Because of all of the above, the USA/EU has not waged war/peace "Over-There" in an effective/efficient manner and thus we are "reaping the whirlwind" as made, even more obvious in the Egyptian Horror today, ongoing Horror in Syria and wherever Islam is more than 5% of the population.
The USA/EU/UN is arguably bankrupt .... morally and fiscally! The USA has frittered away much of their military power, equipment and has exhausted it's troops and war material stockpiles. The USA, since 1990, has allowed it's NATO and allies worldwide to renege on their military treaty obligations and has allowed the UN to become a Cabal run by 3rd World despots......... with China, Iran and North Korea "In the Wings" and waiting for their part to begin.
I'm praying that 2017 will be just another year that Earth totters along with "acceptable" casualties and a pleasant Christmas Season to "Top it Off" ....... However!! I'm planning and preparing for less, much less, pleasant contingencies!!

Two blasts targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt on Palm Sunday have killed at least 40 people, officials say.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39544451

Palm Sunday attacks: ISIS says it carried out bombings at churches in Egypt that killed at least 37
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/0...hurches-in-egypt-that-killed-at-least-37.html

Bombings at Egyptian Coptic churches kill 36, injure more than 100
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-violence-idUSKBN17B06U

11 killed, 33 injured in explosion at Saint Mark’s Church in Alexandria
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2017/...ured-explosion-saint-marks-church-alexandria/

ISLAMIC STATE CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR COPTIC CHURCH ATTACKS IN EGYPT
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Is...ity-for-Coptic-church-attacks-in-Egypt-486595

Nothing has changed since Muhammad's Gang burst on the scene in the 8th Century! It's Them or Us, Fight or Submit and No Quarter Asked or Given. Dust off your World History books if Ya doubt me.

GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
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I love that quote.

 

I do dearly love that quote.

Jesus said that Satan is Prince of this world. I think He meant that quite literally. That he is the one who pulls the strings. In some sense what we think of as , ' Freedom', then is an illusion.

On the other hand since we have the Freedom to choose our Eternal Destiny since we can choose right and wrong , to love or not to love and that is all that counts really.

But it would be nice if we could take back control from these people if we could. If we were good prayerful people they could never have taken control in the first place. If we become good prayerful people again we will win back our freedom. It is as simply as that.

But another true saying is,

'People who do not believe in God will believe in anything'..

..and that is just what has happened to us. They pull our strings because we have let go God's Hand.

 

I have not commented lately either for my own personal reasons. I do, though, want to thank all of you for praying for my son, he is recuperating. My theory on the latest news is quite simple. Israel wants control of the lands promised to them in the Old Testament. The more the Catholic Church disagrees with this, the more Christians will continue to die in the Middle East. It's also about oil and a pipeline through Syria and Iraq to Europe. Iran wants a piece of the action, but so does Saudi Arabia. Israel backs Saudi Arabia. At this point, I say give it to Israel and the Saudis, and make a deal with Russia to go against Iran. It's time to oust the Mullahs. I have been a Ron Paul supporter from day one. The Iraq war was insane. It only gave more power to the Mullahs in Iran. It was a major mistake. But now in order to save the few Christians left in that region, I believe, we need to back Israel. Our Church needs to understand this. It's been an unfair bloody mess and Christians have been sacrificed. It has been tragic. But uniting with Israel, instead of Iran is the only thing left to do in order for some stability. I would rather as a Christian be ruled under an Israel, than an Iran. As for the Saudis, well, not my cup of tea either, but it seems they will comply with the new order. And if the Saudis don't they will be taken care of by Israel. I pray For Russia and its people. Their main economic strength is oil, hopefully, the U.S. won't cut them out from a deal. Tillerson is heading there soon, may his deal work to get them on board. Again, just give Israel what they want. They've been fighting for these lands forever. And Christians have paid for years with their own blood and treasure because of this. I don't know if this is God's plan or not, but I'm exhausted with these stupid wars. I think maybe Trump is too.

 

Ivanka seems very influential?

 

Well, her husband is an Orthodox Jew. I don't find it coincidental. More prophetic I would say. God has a funny way of changing our perspective. How will it turn out? Only He knows. I just pray it goes well for all of us.

 

Like I said there's a new order coming. Obama's weak policies of feeding two monster's (Saudis and Iran) seems to be over. The U.S. has picked a side. And it seems to be the side of Israel. Assad's Hezbollah took its toll. Time to back Israel.

 

Why, because Donald Trump said he didn't care if Assad remained in power, so Assad did what he wanted, attacked his own people who wanted him out. As usual, Trump spoke without thinking. This was Trump's wake up call, finally. Hopefully now Putin will see it's not possible to put a puppet in the White House, because the United States is not a two bit dictatorship but a working democracy. Should evidence be found Trump knew about Russian influence among people he campaigned with, he will be impeached and removed. If no evidence is found he knew, he will stay, only now much wiser. Sorry Putin, sorry Russian trolls!!!

 

I realize a large number of lengthy articles are now being assembled for copy and paste into this thread by Russian bots, soon followed by commentary by Russian trolls. No matter. I won't be responding. I don't respond to Russian controlled media nonsense.

 

I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to say Dawn. Trump is not a Russian puppet. After what Trump pulled in Syria, it is obvious all he cares about is making a deal with the Saudis. ISIS either may continue with their massacre, or may finally be put out of business for good. Trump is betting by allying with the Saudis and Israel, ISIS may disintegrate. As for Assad, right now, he's no longer important. If he stays or leaves Syria it won't matter. He has already lost control.

 

I was responding to the picture of Assad asking why Assad would attack his own people now. Because Trump's careless words gave him, and presumably Russia, the blank check. Assad does nothing without Putin's go ahead. He'd be long gone with the Russian backing.

 

A blank check? For what? A military confrontation with the US that will unseat Assad and Russia certainly can not win? There is no logical reasoning to what you are saying IMO Dawn. Russia stands no chance against US forces and everyone knows it. They stand to lose the only deep water port they have on the Med and also huge sales of military armaments once Assad is out. Iran will be next watch.

padraig has this nailed IMO. We are simply along for the ride at this point. It was naive of me to think that we could vote in a President who would not continue the strategy we have been following the last 25 years.

 

Don...if you may, we really haven't been following the same strategy for the last 2o years. Bush starting the Iraq war was a major blow to the Saudis. By ousting Assad, the U.S. now backs the Saudis. It's all ludicrous. How can anyone keep up?