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UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake [W:44]

Yes, but thanks Fallen. I assume you watched it and heard her say how their news is real news whereas our news is full of commercials and other BS. But rather than fix what ails America, rather than correct our wrongs, clean house, bring our heads back home and fix what's wrong with America here at home. Instead as witnessed right here, too many want to ignore that and continue the false meme of America, the exceptional, the shining city on a hill, always right never wrong, can kick anyone's ass in the world and tell everybody else what to do!
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

First, contrary to rumors, the UN Human Rights Commission has not yet issued any conclusions concerning the chemical attack in question, much less videos. In fact, here's what Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had to say about the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria:

The use of chemical weapons has long been identified as one of the gravest crimes that can be committed, yet their use in Syria seems now to be in little doubt, even if all the circumstances and responsibilities remain to be clarified.

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Furthermore, none of the reports related to Syria currently before the Council concern the videos:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HR...24/Documents/Thematic-CountryChartBooklet.pdf

In fact, there have been some indications that the findings from the investigation into the chemical attack could be released on Monday, September 16. Then, one might have some information related to the videos e.g., whether they were relied upon by the investigators. But for right now, there is no official ruling on those videos.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

President Assad's forces civilian casualties are from the rebels using them as human shields, not them targeting civilians. The rebels on the other hand target civilians.

The UN says that both parties to the conflict are conducting "widespread attacks" on civilians. The most recent report can be found at:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session24/Documents/A_HRC_24_46_en.DOC
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

So you accept that 7:1 civilian massacres have been conducted by Assad and not the rebels? How do you rationalise that with the narrative that Assad is a necessary evil?

Because had the US not interfered from the beginning, president Assad would have suppressed the extremists and the fighting wouldn't have drug on and there wouldn't be 100,000 dead.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

The UN says that both parties to the conflict are conducting "widespread attacks" on civilians. The most recent report can be found at:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session24/Documents/A_HRC_24_46_en.DOC

That report is overwhelmingly damning of pro-government forces. Pretty much all the massacres are attributed to Assad's forces. The rebels are accused only of some mortars and rockets being used without sufficient discretion, particularly in an attack against a Hezbollah headquarters.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

The UN says that both parties to the conflict are conducting "widespread attacks" on civilians. The most recent report can be found at:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session24/Documents/A_HRC_24_46_en.DOC

If your referring to those that have taken up arms and are fighting their government in the category of civilians, then sure. But any government would attack them, even the US.
 
Can you quote where she said any of that?

He thinks that when Clinton comments on what we can learn from terrorist propaganda machines that she is praising them.
 
And clearly your afraid to watch the clip and listen to exactly what she said. But I understand why you wouldn't.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

That report is overwhelmingly damning of pro-government forces. Pretty much all the massacres are attributed to Assad's forces. The rebels are accused only of some mortars and rockets being used without sufficient discretion, particularly in an attack against a Hezbollah headquarters.

The majority of such abuses are attributed to Assad's forces. The rebels are accused of more than what you state.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

If your referring to those that have taken up arms and are fighting their government in the category of civilians, then sure. But any government would attack them, even the US.

Those who take up arms and who are not hors de combat are combatants, not civilians. Abuses against them e.g., summary executions are war crimes, but not violations against civilian protections. Indiscriminate bombardment, deliberate targeting of civilians, kidnapping of civilians, human shielding, use of child soldiers, plunder, etc., are examples of what would qualify as violations of civilian protections.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

That report is overwhelmingly damning of pro-government forces. Pretty much all the massacres are attributed to Assad's forces. The rebels are accused only of some mortars and rockets being used without sufficient discretion, particularly in an attack against a Hezbollah headquarters.

None of the reports suggest that the Syrian government is responsible for the 'overwhelming' share of violations of civilian protections. The latest report suggests that both parties have engaged in "widespread attacks" on civilians.

For the 1/15/2013-5/15/2013 period:

Anti-government armed groups have also committed war crimes, including murder, sentencing and execution without due process, torture, hostage-taking and pillage. They continue to endanger the civilian population by positioning military objectives in civilian areas. The violations and abuses committed by anti-government armed groups did not, however, reach the intensity and scale of those committed by government forces and affiliated militia.

For the 5/15/2013-7/15/2013 period:

Government and pro-government forces have continued to conduct widespread attacks on the civilian population, committing murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearance as crimes against humanity.

It is not accurate to "sanitize" the anti-Assad movement, as Senator McCain has repeatedly done. This movement, like the dictatorship, is brutal. There is also no concrete evidence that it has any democratic aspirations whatsoever. The brutality on both sides is, unfortunately, consistent with what one witnesses in ethnic conflicts, where differences are fundamental, the appetite for political compromise is lacking, and each party dehumanizes its opponent.

U.S. interests would not materially benefit no matter the outcome in the war. On one side, is a relatively unfriendly authoritarian government. On the other, is a movement that has incorporated Al Qaeda and other extremists into its ranks. Therefore, neither side deserves American assistance and, at least IMO, the U.S. arms assistance being provided to one of the warring parties is not helpful. If anything, it has contributed to a flow of arms that has raised the intensity of the conflict. The more intense conflict has elevated the civilian toll.

The removal of Syria's chemical weapons, if the agreement is fulfilled, would probably make the largest contribution to American interests, as well as those of strategic regional allies. Hopefully, the agreement will be fully implemented.
 
Re: UN Human Rights Council says Syria gas attack videos, photos fake

None of the reports suggest that the Syrian government is responsible for the 'overwhelming' share of violations of civilian protections. The latest report suggests that both parties have engaged in "widespread attacks" on civilians.

I disagree. Having perused the report, the vast number of attacks on civilians has been by the Assad regime. The few incidents implicating the rebels of such were mortars and rockets that were used without sufficient discretion (such as the attack on a Hez headquarters) and not intentional slaughter.

Sure, they've both done it, over vast geographical areas, but the quantities cannot be compared.
 
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