Is It Possible Syrian Rebels, Not Assad, Used Chemical Weapons? (Yes, But Not Likely)

[KittyWampus]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/27/216172145/is-it-possible-the-syrian-rebels-not-assad-used-chemical-weapons

Back in 2002, research conducted by George Lopez, a professor of peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, cast doubt on the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In this situation, Lopez rejects the notion that it was the Syrian rebels who used chemical weapons.

snip
"This anarchic, killing stalemate" could motivate anyone, Winfield says, but such a scenario just doesn't make sense.

For one thing, the alleged chemical attack happened in the Ghouta region of Damascus. It is controlled by the rebels, and civilians in the area sympathize with the rebels.

snip
"If [the rebels] have overrun an arms dump which had some of the agent, if a defector brought a limited amount with him, then it would explain why some of the signs and symptoms showed less toxicity than we expected," Winfield said. "That is a lot of 'ifs,' though."

Lopez concurs: "Western intelligence has been standing on its head to monitor all intel about those groups hostile to the West and what they have in their weapons access and supply. The amount of gas agents seemingly used was way beyond what a clandestine group could mix and develop without detection. And it is unclear they would have the expertise to mix the agents.

"Is it possible that a rebel group overran a storage facility of the government and captured some shells that were ready to be activated and then did so?" Lopez says. "Yes, but it would have had to have been a very large seizure preceded by a big battle between Assad top teams and rebels. It could not have happened without inside/outside knowledge."

[jzodda]

1. Good luck trying to convince the doubters

DU has been taken over by people who hate the President and call him and his advisers people who are loose with the truth. It sounds like in some posts that they like Assad better than Obama.

I have read stuff in here last several days I never thought I would read. Comparing him to Bush and the Neo-cons. Saying that Obama IS a neo-con and just as bad as Bush.

All to defend a man and regime that has killed 100,000 at least so far and shot unarmed peaceful protesters in the back.

[dtom67]

10. holy crap...

You are actually suggesting that I should support indiscriminate bombing of innocent people because THERE IS A DEM in the white house?

When we bomb them ( and rest easy, we will sooner or later ) , we will be bombing people who have commited no crime other than living in an area where WE THINK chems were used. Where do the relatives of the people iin the video live? I don't know and I doubt you do either. For all you know, we may actually kill them with our own bombs!

There are thousands of assholes like Assad around the globe. Anyone who thinks this is about anything other than money,power and politics is a fool.

[jzodda]

14. Nonsence

I never heard the President say he supports "indiscriminate bombing of innocent people" as you put it.

Nothing has happened nor been decided yet from what I have read the past 24 hours.

[David__77]

11. No, Obama has not yet gone there. He has said he's indecisive.

Or, excuse me, "undecided" about what to do or not do on this issue. If he is to intervene on the same side as al Qaeda terrorists, yes, that would be presidency-destroying action that would put an indelible stamp on his place in history.

[HangOnKids]

12. Cool Story Bro

" It sounds like in some posts that they like Assad better than Obama." Really? Try harder.

[Laelth]

2. Interesting. Thanks. n/t

-Laelth

[Arctic Dave]

3. More opinion and no evidence.

Has the alien guy been ask yet?

[dtom67]

4. the one good thing about this war...

Is that it proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we do indeed have plenty of money for Social spending on Medicare,medicaid SNAP and others. I thought we had a budget crisis.
My bad.

P.s. cannot wait to see how this escalates and I hope the supporters of random death are able to step up and own the consequences of their willful gullibility.

[delrem]

5. ah, you salivate for war.

[KittyWampus]

7. NO I don't. But I do hunger for knowledge. Maybe you might get off DU and do some reading.

[winter is coming]

6. And, of course we know that no one would have funneled weapons and expertise to

those rebels, because no one has an interest in ginning up a war in Syria.

[KittyWampus]

9. Do you have an credible links to articles detailing this please. I find only rightwing sources

pointing to the rebels this past week.

[winter is coming]

13. You're missing the point. OP is meant to give the impression that only one interpretation

of the available data is possible. Given that we've already been lied into one war in the Middle East and that various parties plausibly have their own reasons to want another one, it's ludicrous to ignore the possibility that someone could be supplying the rebels for reasons of their own.

[David__77]

8. Per this logic, AQ used them in Khan al Assal.

So then both sides would be using them. We need to stay out regardless.