International, Media

Was A Rogue Syrian Officer Responsible For Chemical Weapons Attack?

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

syria - ghoutaPresident Obama claims that a chemical weapons attack was carried out by the Syrian government in Ghouta on Aug 21. The Obama Administration then sent an “intelligence official” to Foreign Policy magazine to leak the intelligence supporting that claim. That intelligence consisted of captured phone call between an official of the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the leader of a chemical weapons unit. The phone calls were described as panicky with the official demanding answers.

You can kiss that intelligence collection method goodbye. This “leak” also may have endangered the NOC who placed the device. As the phone call shows, the Assad regime is responsible, but that regime includes everyone from Syrian President Assad to the lowliest private in the Syrian army.

The phone call does not indicate who gave the order. The repeated referrals to the entire “regime” means that the Obama Administration hasn’t narrowed it down. The easiest way to prevent irate phone call from a Ministry of Defense official is to claim that Bashar al-Assad or his brutal younger brother, Maher, gave the order. That would have put an end to any future phone calls.

One intelligence official asked: “Was the attack on Aug. 21 the work of a Syrian officer overstepping his bounds? Or was the strike explicitly directed by senior members of the Assad regime? It’s unclear where control lies.” Intelligence analysts say that without the intercepted call does not establish who gave the order and could indicate that it was a mistake.

Assad is head of a weak regime, whose Alawite constituency is far outnumbered by the Sunni population. The use of chemical weapons in such circumstances is a typical behavior. It seems unlikely that a single, limited US strike of Syria will change the motivation for using chemical weapons. After Syria survives the US strike, the next chemical weapons usage will place the US in an increasingly difficult position. Future US strikes will become more and more politically difficult.

The Syrian civil war has provided a vehicle for a resurgence of al-Qaeda. A Syrian rebel group, the Al-Nusra Front, has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Sheik Ayman al-Zawahri. The Syrian Free Army, a group of rebels made up of Syrian soldiers who have defected, will “collaborate with any faction allowing them to topple” Assad. Networks are being set up to funnel foreign jihadis into Syria. In areas controlled by Al-Nusra, Sharia law is being enforced.

With a choice between Assad and his chemical weapons, and another Islamic state sworn to the destruction of Israel, it’s time to sit one out.

H/T: The Guardian, National Post, Juan Cole, Charles P. Pierce, Bloomberg.

92 thoughts on “Was A Rogue Syrian Officer Responsible For Chemical Weapons Attack?”

  1. …You can kiss that intelligence collection method goodbye. This “leak” also may have endangered the NOC who placed the device. As the phone call shows, the Assad regime is responsible, but that regime includes everyone from Syrian President Assad to the lowliest private in the Syrian army…

    What device? What NOC? The intel came from Unit 8200* from the Israelis. That’s why the whole damned thing is so suspicious. Netanyahu is complaining now that Mr. Obama looks weak for not taking action against Syria Friday (29Aug) and is wondering what will happen to Israel if Iran starts up its uranium enrichment up to 90%. He should have thought of that before approving this evil black-op. Putin and Xi Jinping literally “KNOW” who really did this and will tell Mr. Obama Tuesday (3Sept) at G-20.

    *Unit 8200 is Israeli equivalent to US’s NSA Eschelon (aka Prism)

  2. Oky1

    I reached out to Patrick Byrne of Overstock.com a few years when you publicly announced his displeasure with Goldman Sachs etc. In 2000, Overstock set out to buy ToyTime.com in Ohio. Patrick wanted to pay $1 million and Paul Traub promised him he would get it for that price.

    But Traub worked for the Creditors who asked me to do the inventory.

    As a result, Patrick had to pay $5,175,000. So he wasn’t too happy with me when eToys came around. Tried to sell him the remaining assets that Bain/Kay Bee had not already purchased; and he wouldn’t even come and look.

    His emotional personal animus for me cost his company a good deal.

    Thanks for the links – and what is “your” issue similar?

  3. **They’re Broke! That’s why they are push WW3/Syria **

    Wallst/City of London Banks/Insur creeps are the ones Broke! That’s what I meant.

  7. I think those are essential questions LK. The US has satellites which can read license plate numbers and drones which hover over stationary targets. To claim state secrets as a way to avoid showing the evidence is not credible.

    The administration keeps arguing by assertion. That tells me they are lying. People who have evidence, present it. I also see the constant attempt to claim that CW were used elided into CW were used by the Syrian govt. The fact that the administration keeps using propaganda to “make their case” casts serious doubts about that case.

    Here are some other questions I hope reporters and Congress will ask the administration.

    1. What is the legal basis for saying the president may go to war without a Congressional mandate? Do not accept state secrets as the answer. A democracy isn’t supposed to have secret law. We need full, unclassified information about how the administration came to this understanding of US law.

    2. How will this be paid for? The US govt. claims we are in a state of fiscal crisis. Where will the money come from?

    3. I want to know if the administration has examined peaceful methods to taking a stand against the use of CW. If not, why not? I want my Congress to demand that they carefully evaluate all the options, not just the military options.

    We need full, unclassified evidence available to everyone for verification. We do not need endless assertions by the administration. Congress will be shirking their duty if they refuse to ask real questions, demand real answers and make the information available to the public.

    In the meantime, as it is clear that Obama wants to go to war, I urge every person of conscience to speak up.

  8. So, I’ve been reading about the intel 3 days in advance of the chemical weapons strike and some questions come to mind: what did our government do with the intel; when did the analysts and their chain of command know what they had; who did they tell; who did THEY tell; did the White House know; who therein; what did they do; why/why not; was anyone else notified; who; why; what did they do; etc. etc. etc.

    That line of inquiry is predicated on the assertion that what could be derived from the intel was known to be preparations for a chemical attack prior to it happening and not after. It’s one thing to have the intel and know what it means before something happens or have the intel and know what it meant afterward. What kind of intel was it anyway?

    If we need all of this intel/surveillance and a budget to sustain it that would make Croesus blanch, how could we have the intel/knowledge and not bring leverage to bear to stop it? Isn’t this one of the things it’s for? If not, then just what is it for and what value is it?

    I’d start with those questions if I was a Congresscritter.

  9. eToys was stolen by collusion between Goldman Sachs who took it public in a classic “pump-n-dump” Spinning scheme in 1999.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/opinion/sunday/nocera-rigging-the-ipo-game.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1

    And Bain Capital that desired to monopolize the independent retail toys industry under the Toys R Us brand name.

    The eToys debtor’s counsel was Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP and the Creditors’ counsel was Paul Traub. Both MNAT and Traub have “undisclosed” connections to Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital. Both firms confessed lying under oath to hide their conflicts of interest.

    Wall Street Journal July 2005 details part of the schemes
    http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/etoys-investors-claim-conflict-at-law-firm-592819/

    Due to Romney’s hubris and his running for POTUS, much attention to our case has come; that was previously thought laid waste due to federal corruption. Whereas Romney, Goldman Sachs, MNAT and Bain were powerful enough to arranged for a MNAT law firm partner (Colm Connolly) to become the Delaware United States Attorney on August 2, 2001.

    Connolly was a partner of MNAT from 1999 to August 2001 and Romney resigned (purportedly) – in a “retroactive” manner – from August 2001, back to February 11, 1999.

    That is why Romney lied upon his campaign finance forms about his tenure as CEO of Bain Capital. Colm Connolly buried any federal investigation into the organized crimes, for his entire 7 years as chief federal prosecutor; because everyone “believed” that Romney would become POTUS (and pick that “friendly” US Attorney General that Sheldon Adelson was paying $100 million to benefit from). However;

    Romney Didn’t Make It!

  10. I did read three, got three points to shave….. Good ideal… Very interesting… Maybe we have more in common than you know… So what’s the status of eToys at this time…. What do you think of PW being in business in the caymans …… Wonder if there’s more to Enrons assets than were disclosed in the American filings…. Just saying….

  11. Anonymously Yours;

    It would be prudent for you to Google whom I am & what sacrifices have been made, in the pursuits of justice; before inferences of laxity and/or apathy on my part. President Obama’s Illinois campaign is following me on Twitter for good reason.

    As for learning the rules of the game, they still boil down to simple semantics. Either lead, follow or get out of the way.

    I’m following no one and getting out of the way is not in my nature.

  12. Laser,

    We all have what ifs if you’ve lived any at all…. Not what if… I did something…. But, taking a stnd and being principled about it is better than thinking about it and doing nothing at all… Living vicariously through others…. Can’t be much of a life….

    I thin Einstein said this…. Learn the rules of the game…. And learn to play them better than anyone else….. Or something like that….

  13. @Els DL;

    “Chief of Ethics” officer means that you are the person who figures out how your entity can break the law; and the cheapest way to bribe your way to cover it all up.

    John Ashcroft was helping U.S. against Romney’s “Bankruptcy Ring” of racketeers. As was Debra Yang of President Bush’s Corporate Fraud Task Force.

    USAG Ashcroft stated to the Hague Global Forum on Corruption that the problem with federal corruption in the United States is corrupt federal judges in collusion with high ranking members of the U.S. Trustee’s office.
    http://petters-fraud.com/KnizeTestimony_DOJ_JudicialConference_BankruptcyCorruption.pdf

    Then the New Jersey U.S. Attorney gave the “ethical” [sic] John Ashcroft a $50 Million NO BID DPA (Deferred Prosecution Agreement).
    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/washington/10justice.html?pagewanted=all
    Resulting in the remarks from the Hague and other websites being REdacted.

    Al Capone would have loved DPA’s, where – like Sheldon Adelson – he could simply pay a small percentage of his ill gotten gains and continue to be in organized crime. Because DPA’s being paid to federal prosecutors – is nothing more than blatant/flagrant acts of Bribery.

    And the party who provided the “genius” pathway for the Bribery to occur – is none other than former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie;

    who was then rewarded himself with the Governor’s chair!

  14. @Laserhaas, you mentioned the yet-again-renamed Blackwater, Academi and former Attorney General Ashcroft. Ashcroft is now their chief of ‘ethics’. I’ve been laughing since I found that out a long while ago. You remember, he’s the one that had Lady Justice’s breast covered up when he was Attorney General.

  15. Anonymously yours;

    I remember what the powers that be did to Perot in TX;
    when he decided to run for POTUS – and was iron fisted on positions.

    “Left that life” of my being Laser the Liquidator life for others things
    (my personal battle with Romney)

    “Some days” I wish I hadn’t; because it cost my children their inheritance
    (then I think about how many inheritances they steal on a daily basis)

    “I think what” might have happened if I hadn’t been fighting Romney
    (He might have not lied upon his Campaign Finance OGE Forms and might have become POTUS – if he wasn’t so worried about our eToys cases)

    “But hey” – he and his gang could simply just shoot me next week and nobody else will have to hear about this stuff anymore……

    And then – I COULD WIN!

  16. Obama’s speech seems aimed at Obama supporters and those who have more recently lost their faith but would like to regain it. Obama reiterates the US is a democracy. Hmm…why does he need to reassure the people of that?

    Obama is going to ask Congress to debate the issue and take a vote. In the meantime he reserves the right to forget about that and just go to war. His followers will hear part one and not hear part two of the equation. These are people who want to believe and literally, they will not hear anything they don’t want to.

    Always watch what he’s doing, not what he’s saying. Even before his speech began he told us what he really thinks about US democracy and the healthy debate which is supposed to be important and necessary. He turned off the mike so you couldn’t hear the protesters. That was the meaningful part of his speech.

    I urge the international community to call for a truce and meeting at Geneva for peace talks. Clearly, Obama wants to go to war and he will absolutely make that happen with or without Congress. If the international community steps in immediately, there is a chance to stop him.

  17. Laser,

    Funny you bring up mccombs…. I have met him… A couple of times…. Not that he’d know me…. Inman was part if the MCC that got started in Austin during the 80s….. It numerous computer companies that formed a think tank… Pretty interesting…. Left that life for other things….. Some days… I think what of…. But hey…

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