U.S. can’t prove Bashar Assad approved chemical attacks in Syria

[Wehrwolfen]

Control of deadly weapons in question



By Guy Taylor
September 11, 2013


Will those responsible for the Sept. 11 Benghazi terror attack ever be brought to justice?


U.S. intelligence has yet to uncover evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad directly ordered the chemical attacks last month on civilians in a suburb of Damascus, though the consensus inside U.S. agencies and Congress is that members of Mr. Assad’s inner circle likely gave the command, officials tell The Washington Times.

The gap in the intelligence has raised debate in some corners of the wider intelligence community about whether Mr. Assad has full control of his war-weary Army and their arsenal of chemical missiles, which most likely would be treasured by terrorist groups known to be operating in Syria, said officials, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were discussing intelligence matters.

“If there was a rogue general that did it on his own accord, that would be a bigger problem for Assad, because that would imply that he does not have control of his own weapons,” said one senior congressional source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments on Syria.

Apart from concerns about weapons falling into the hands of such Sunni extremist and al Qaeda-linked groups as the al-Nusra Front, there are also concerns about serious hurdles now likely to lie ahead for the international community trying to assemble a special team to work with Mr. Assad on securing his chemical arsenal.


Read more:
U.S. can't prove Bashar Assad approved chemical attacks in Syria - Washington Times


With all the technology we have, Obama can't come to a final conclusion?

 

[Rogue Valley]

Will those responsible for the Sept. 11 Benghazi terror attack ever be brought to justice?

There exists a sealed federal indictment naming five Libyan individuals. What is odd is that these individuals are all accessible (journalists have interviewed them), yet there has been no attempt by the US to either capture them or request their extradition.

U.S. intelligence has yet to uncover evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad directly ordered the chemical attacks last month on civilians in a suburb of Damascus, though the consensus inside U.S. agencies and Congress is that members of Mr. Assad’s inner circle likely gave the command, officials tell The Washington Times. “If there was a rogue general that did it on his own accord, that would be a bigger problem for Assad, because that would imply that he does not have control of his own weapons,” said one senior congressional source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments on Syria.

According to Syrian communication intercepts (US/Israel/Germany) the August 21 chem attack was orchestrated and accomplished by the 155th Brigade of the 4th Division (SA). The SA military base/depot from which the chem munitions were fired is under the command of General Maher Assad who is the younger brother of Syrian president Bashar Assad. It seems that although the chem attack was sanctioned at the highest levels, the number of fatalities was far greater than anticipated.

 

[DDD]

Great! All Assad needs to do now is kill of one of his commanders as "retaliation" (or a Martial law court would do as fine) for insubordination and Obama's attempt to attack would be refuted then?

 

[obvious Child]

Great! All Assad needs to do now is kill of one of his commanders as "retaliation" (or a Martial law court would do as fine) for insubordination and Obama's attempt to attack would be refuted then?

5 characters

 

[Northern Light]

Even if there is proof, it will be illegal for the U.S. to invade Syria without a UN resolution. Just like it was with Iraq, when it turned out that the evience for WMDs was falsified.

If the U.S. invades again without UN-confirmed evidence, the world is not going to take our word for it for a second time, not after the previous debacle.

I think Syria is going to represent a major cross-roads in how the U.S. is perceived as a world power. If we invade anyway, then the common trust that other nations have shown us is going to be completely obliterated, which will have economic ramifications as well. I don't think the financial elites really give a crap what happens to the U.S. at this point, we're just their smoking gun and if push comes to shove they are going to use it, even if it means completely ruining our reputation.

There is also the underlying potential for Syria to be the next modern nuclear standoff. Every major player is descending on that region. The media is really downplaying it but if there's a major stanoff there, the stakes will be higher than they have ever been.

 

[Sharona]

There exists a sealed federal indictment naming five Libyan individuals. What is odd is that these individuals are all accessible (journalists have interviewed them), yet there has been no attempt by the US to either capture them or request their extradition.


According to Syrian communication intercepts (US/Israel/Germany) the August 21 chem attack was orchestrated and accomplished by the 155th Brigade of the 4th Division (SA). The SA military base/depot from which the chem munitions were fired is under the command of General Maher Assad who is the younger brother of Syrian president Bashar Assad. It seems that although the chem attack was sanctioned at the highest levels, the number of fatalities was far greater than anticipated.

From all I have read... Bashar Assad is a mild mannered, western educated person who is surrounded by hardline uncles from the old regime.. and this General Maher Assad is as ruthless and powerful as they come.