General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsbrown Moses : Why The UN Report On Chemical Weapons In Syria Isn't Just About August 21st
Why The UN Report On Chemical Weapons In Syria Isn't Just About August 21st
It's being widely reported that the UN report on the August 21st alleged chemical attack in Damascus may be published on Monday, if not sooner, with claims that "it will provide a strong circumstantial case -- based on an examination of spent rocket casings, ammunition, and laboratory tests of soil, blood, and urine samples -- that points strongly in the direction of Syrian government culpability."
Those of you have been following the blog for the past few weeks will already know I've been spending a lot of time looking at "spent rocket casings", and that the UN has closely examined the munition I've dubbed the UMLACA (Unidentified Munition Linked to Alleged Chemical Attacks). The evidence I've gathered seems to point towards the government being responsible for the use of these munitions, with evidence I've examined pointing towards the opposition being responsible seeming very weak. If the UN report confirms these are chemical munitions, then it seems almost certain the government were responsible for firing them.
What many people aren't aware of is that the same munitions are linked to at least one previous chemical attack. Earlier on August 5th, two areas of Damascus, Douma and Adra, were hit by an alleged chemical attack, with around 400 victims reported injured in Douma, and at least a couple of dozen in Adra. I've collected videos from the attack here, and the following video with English subtitles has one of the victims explaining what happen in Adra...
It seems clear that these are the same type of munition recovered from the August 21st attack in Eastern Ghouta, and examined by the UN. It would seem that rather than being a freak incident, the August 21st attack was the second to occur in Damascus within 3 weeks. It's also worth noting this video, originally posted online on June 11th, showing the remains of the same munition, with claims it was a "chemical rocket"
If the UN report does point towards these munitions being used to deliver the chemical agent, then it seems to strongly suggest the August 5th attack was also a chemical attack using the same type of munition, and might put previous alleged chemical attacks in the Damascus area in a new light.
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com.
http://brown-moses.blogspot.ca/2013/09/why-un-report-on-chemical-weapons-in.html
Benton D Struckcheon
(2,347 posts)But utterly dishonest crap does.
cali
(114,904 posts)irrelevant to my opposition to the war. I believe it was the Assad Regime. The argument that the "assad regime was responsible" doesn't change my opposition.
Over 100,000 people have been killed in the civil war. The U.S. bombing Syria wouldn't stop the civil was. It could make things worse, in fact.
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)Is now trying to implement with Putin.
I'm not sure that it will succeed, but it worth a try.