Latest Breaking News

pampango

(24,692 posts) Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:05 PM Sep 2014

Watchdog Agency Concludes Chlorine Used as Weapon in Syria [View all]

Source: New York Times

The conclusion, based on months of investigation by a fact-finding team, appeared to indicate that the Syrian government was continuing to use chemical weapons in the country’s civil war, despite having agreed to forswear the weapons, surrender its arsenal and tear down its manufacturing plants.

The fact-finding team went to Syria in May to investigate the reports of chlorine attacks, but soon withdrew, after a convoy of vehicles carrying its inspectors was attacked with a roadside bomb and automatic weapons. The fact-finding team said it was continuing to investigate reports of subsequent chlorine attacks, including a spate of new allegations in August.

Unlike nerve agents, mustard gas or other specially developed chemical weapons, chlorine is a common substance with many civilian and industrial uses. The international treaty banning chemical weapons does not restrict the manufacture or stockpiling of chlorine, but it does prohibit using it or any chemical as a weapon.

The organization’s report adds weight to the finding of a United Nations panel investigating human rights violations in Syria, which released a report last month saying that chlorine attacks had been carried out.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/world/middleeast/watchdog-agency-concludes-chlorine-used-as-weapon-in-syria.html

45 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Watchdog Agency Concludes Chlorine Used as Weapon in Syria [View all] pampango Sep 2014 OP

I have it on good authority that this is just neo-con propaganda spouted by the MSM... brooklynite Sep 2014 #1

You forgot about WMD in Iraq already???? grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #2

It is as much ignoring proof to say that chemical weapons were NOT used in Syria as to argue karynnj Sep 2014 #10

Not false, but suspect, to be sure. grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #25

Likely, we will continue to hear anti-Assad propaganda until we are at war with Syria. grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #3

Real Heavy Duty Neo-Con Propaganda, Sir The Magistrate Sep 2014 #4

as I said, some will be true. I find it funny that I just posted grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #19

I don't consider the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to be a propaganda source. pampango Sep 2014 #6

Whatever gets us to take out Assad. grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #9

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is not out to 'get' Assad. pampango Sep 2014 #11

I agree. But let us remember that the neocon plan is to take out Assad, and the grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #13

+1 "truth is the first casualty of war" KurtNYC Sep 2014 #15

I appreciate you accepting the OCPC's motives. I doubt that many liberals support Assad either pampango Sep 2014 #16

Why? For oil again? Cayenne Sep 2014 #14

It's all part of their "New World Order": grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #17

How convienient, the timing on this 'report', indeed. Paging Judith Miller, paging Judith Miller. Purveyor Sep 2014 #5

Would some delay in its release resulted in better timing? When would have been a pampango Sep 2014 #12

NYT's and their Reporting "Sources (on WMD)" should always be viewed KoKo Sep 2014 #21

True. Not so much the OCPC. n/t pampango Sep 2014 #31

Chlorine = the new yellowcake! woodsprite Sep 2014 #7

I believe the yellowcake was a Bush/Cheney invention never verified by any independent authority pampango Sep 2014 #8

But they don't know WHO used it. KurtNYC Sep 2014 #18

"...its full report is understood to leave little doubt that the Syrian government was responsible." pampango Sep 2014 #20

Responsibility in an area where Rebels had access to chemicals could also mean KoKo Sep 2014 #22

Luhan needs to make up his mind then because he said KurtNYC Sep 2014 #23

Yes, I'm sure we can trust them when they tell us they've given all of it to us. 7962 Sep 2014 #24

Luhan says his agency verified and confirmed it but now implies Assad used chlorine KurtNYC Sep 2014 #28

Its not whether I believe Luhan, its whether ANYONE can believe Assad 7962 Sep 2014 #36

Apples And Oranges, Sir The Magistrate Sep 2014 #27

Sir...it might have been seen as WMD of a lesser resort..Primative.. KoKo Sep 2014 #34

It Has Been Used As a Weapon Of War In The Past, Ma'am The Magistrate Sep 2014 #35

Back to being the US thats at fault, huh? It never ends around here. 7962 Sep 2014 #37

It's reading information from various points of view and not just USA MSM... KoKo Sep 2014 #38

Wasn't chlorine one of the thngs that sanctions banned Iraq from having? arcane1 Sep 2014 #26

I don't think so karynnj Sep 2014 #30

Chlorine as a Warfare GAS???? Who went to a Swimming pool and tried to steal the cylinders? happyslug Sep 2014 #29

"Thus I can NOT see Syria using Chlorine Gas." Believe what you will. The OCPC disagrees with you. pampango Sep 2014 #32

In Short, Sir The Magistrate Sep 2014 #33

It comes down to this, then. Who would you see replacing Assad...who was just re-elected? KoKo Sep 2014 #39

I Expressed An Opinion On The Utility Of Chlorine As a Weapon, Ma'am The Magistrate Sep 2014 #40

You've not always been clear on your opinion.... KoKo Sep 2014 #42

Events, Ma'am, Are Not So Organized As All That The Magistrate Sep 2014 #44

It's a horrible death. A tanker spilled in my hometown on the freeway. The survivors ended living freshwest Sep 2014 #41

cheap and used a lot in all countries. They've used chlorine before to kill people. Sunlei Sep 2014 #43

So, is the idea to fight Assad and IS simaltaneously? daleo Sep 2014 #45