Posted on 09/16/2013 10:28:35 AM PDT by kimtom
( image provided by by Shaam News Network )
Dale Gavlak assisted in the research and writing process of this article, but was not on the ground in Syria. Reporter Yahya Ababneh, with whom the report was written in collaboration, was the correspondent on the ground in Ghouta who spoke directly with the rebels, their family members, victims of the chemical weapons attacks and local residents.
Gavlak is a MintPress News Middle East correspondent who has been freelancing for the AP as a Amman, Jordan correspondent for nearly a decade. This report is not an Associated Press article; rather it is exclusive to MintPress News.
Ghouta, Syria — As the machinery for a U.S.-led military intervention in Syria gathers pace following last week’s chemical weapons attack, the U.S. and its allies may be targeting the wrong culprit.
Interviews with people in Damascus and Ghouta, a suburb of the Syrian capital, where the humanitarian agency Doctors Without Borders said at least 355 people had died last week from what it believed to be a neurotoxic agent, appear to indicate as much.
The U.S., Britain, and France as well as the Arab League have accused the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for carrying out the chemical weapons attack, which mainly targeted civilians. U.S. warships are stationed in the Mediterranean Sea to launch military strikes against Syria in punishment for carrying out a massive chemical weapons attack. The U.S. and others are not interested in examining any contrary evidence, .........
(Excerpt) Read more at mintpressnews.com ...
You always have to ask, what visibility does your “witness” have into the higher levels? If the Saudis are supplying weapons they are surely using middlemen to create a firewall. Nobody actually in Syria is likely to have the full picture or know who supplied what to whom.
Accusations like this should not be reported unless they can be independently verified. This is not some gossip column where things can be said with no implications.
It was never to Assad’s advantage to use chemical weapons. He is winning an the last thing he wanted was to draw a military strike from the US. As it is, Obama looks like an ineffective fool.
This isn’t the first I’ve heard of this, that it was the Saudi backed rebels killing people with chemical weapons. In fact, this about the dozenth times, from at least as many sources, that I’ve read of the rebels using chemical weapons.
What about Obama's accusations that Assad used the chemical weapons?
Saudi Arabia’s 'Chemical Bandar' behind the Syrian chemical attacks?
Following Egypt and Libya, Obama coninues to fumble the ball in Syria. The House of Saud is going to want their golden necklace back real soon.
I’m sure Assad’s army is so thoroughly infiltrated that there are plenty of rebels within the ranks....Just like the Afghani army pulls with our dudes.
“What about Obama’s accusations that Assad used the chemical weapons? “
The president has access to satellite data, on the ground intelligence, and connections to other country’s intel assets. He should have been able to make the call with 95% accuracy. However, when allied countries came out with conflicting intel, it was a surprise from two perspectives. One, I expected that their input and buy in was already part of the president’s intel. It apparently was not. And, two, other allied countries tried hard to back him off the claims, which is not what I’d expect if the US had shared their data. (Now, there may be politics as play, but this is not how it went down when Bush made his presentations. It was unexpected.)
Also, Obama has very poor believability. As one wag said, “What happens when you think everything the president says is a lie?” Well, now we know.
Obama is, apparently, attempting to use the US military to help Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait achieve their pipeline. Though the pipeline is more or less in our interest, the US has no other strategic interests at stake. This is a hornet’s nest and we need to stay away.
“This isn’t the first I’ve heard of this, that it was the Saudi backed rebels killing people with chemical weapons. In fact, this about the dozenth times, from at least as many sources, that I’ve read of the rebels using chemical weapons.”
I think this article said Saudi Arabia supplied the chemical weapons, which is different than the weapons being captured and used by Saudi backed rebels. It implies a level of criminality and culpability I’d find unlikely in the politically aware, extremely cautious Saudi royal family. It’s unlikely they supplied, or even have, chemical weapons.
Jerome R. Corsi (WND) reported:
On Aug. 23, LiveLeak.com hosted an audio recording of a phone call broadcast on Syrian TV between a terrorist affiliated with the rebel civilian militia “Shuhada al-Bayada Battalion” in Homs, Syria, and his Saudi Arabian boss, identified as “Abulbasit.” The phone call indicates rebel-affiliated terrorists in Syria, not the Assad government, launched the chemical weapons attack in Deir Ballba in the Homs, Syria, countryside.
The terrorist said his group, which comprises 200 terrorists escaped from al-Bayadah to al-Daar al-Kabera through a tunnel, needed to buy weapons to attack Homs.
The Saudi financier, who was in Cairo, asked the Syrian terrorists to give details about his group and how it will receive the money. The Saudi admitted his support to terrorists in Daraa and the Damascus countryside. The Syrian terrorist told him that one of the achievements of his “battalion” was the use of chemical weapons in Deir Ballba.
The recorded phone call disclosed the cooperation between two terrorist groups in Syria to bring two bottles of Sarin Gas from the Barzeh neighborhood in Damascus.
“...the US has no other strategic interests at stake. This is a hornet’s nest and we need to stay away....”
Right, but The CIA is involved even indirectly.
They are prime movers for US secret objectives, they (the agency) does not have US (people) interests at heart , but their own agenda.
We should stay away!
we are backing the wrong side
“Jerome R. Corsi (WND) reported:”
We, the people, feel informed because “news” agencies are telling us what they call “facts.” But when major intelligence groups are involved, like those of Syria, Iran, Russia, China and others, you simply can’t believe anything. It may or may not be true, but lacking any ability to independently verify, we the public simply don’t know. Anybody can spoof anybody else and make their puppets say anything they wish.
Now, do I believe both sides have used and will continue to use poison gas? Absolutely. But we are not in a position, nor will the general public ever be in a position, to know who supplied what to whom.
What we do know is that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait would greatly benefit if Assad falls, because they are desperate to get that pipeline done before Iran goes nuclear and cuts off the Persian Gulf. If Assad doesn’t fall and this turns into a forever war, Israel and the west benefits because the Islamists will be completely tied up fighting each other.
Also, if Assad falls, the Christians and Druze will be massacred. It will be the worst genocide since WWII.
We shouldn’t be backing either side.
What is likely meant is that Saudi Arabia provided the MONEY to buy the chemical weapons. (Maybe even bought them from the consulate in Benghazi)
“What is likely meant is that Saudi Arabia provided the MONEY to buy the chemical weapons”
I think the weapons are likely from Assad’s army. When Assad had them moved and dispersed it was obvious he’d lose some. The money Saudi Arabia spent has been for arms. It’s unlikely they’d supply cash as it would likely be taken and used for living the high life. It is unlikely you can buy chemical weapons easily and they aren’t very effective in the type of war they’re fighting anyway. If they were, they’d have been used more frequently.
“...”
Now, I agree about the dis-information war.
I agree, Assad falls, Christians (Druze) suffer.
I am not for that.
Good comments
yeah, and Arabs didn’t open the “spigots”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.