Article

2013-08-25 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

3,600 showed 'neurotoxic symptoms' in Syria

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Posted by Fred 2013-08-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [10 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Syria

#1 OK, MSF is a vaguely reputable organization so we have some confirmation the event actually occurred and wasn't just a massive fauxtography project. That leaves us with Who Dunnit? Maybe I'm cynical, but seems to me the rebels have the most to gain here.

Posted by SteveS 2013-08-25 00:13|| 2013-08-25 00:13|| Front Page Top

#2 I'll have to confer with TW, but I believe we can safely rule out the saucisson sec.

Champ could have been an instant hero, had he shipped the rebels a few thousand atropine injectors. Of course one must then assume he would have actually known what a "neurotoxin" and atropine actually are.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-25 02:05|| 2013-08-25 02:05|| Front Page Top

#3 I'm still skeptical. Looks like a 10% mortality rate. Mil grade VX/GB dispersed to an unprotected population - much higher death rate IMNSHO. Looks to be a G series non-persistent agent. Even with NAAKs, unless you get to them quickly, it does not end well.

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2013-08-25 07:57|| 2013-08-25 07:57|| Front Page Top

#4 We start with "1300 dead of nerve gas". Go to "3,600 showed 'neurotoxic symptoms'". End with "told you to boil the water!"?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2013-08-25 08:09|| 2013-08-25 08:09|| Front Page Top

#5 Perhaps someone at the Al Muthanna State Establishment, north of Baghdad should be contacted.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-25 08:29|| 2013-08-25 08:29|| Front Page Top

#6 Bad falafel

Posted by Frank G 2013-08-25 09:51|| 2013-08-25 09:51|| Front Page Top

#7 ...I'm with Bangkok Billy and Grom - the numbers just don't add up for what they should be for an honest-to-God chemical attack against unprotected people. Of course, that leaves us with a bunch of other Clancy-grade horrors:

A) Does this mean that whoever fired the damn things had no idea what they were doing?

B) Is it possible that whoever made the stuff didn't know what they were doing?

C) Could the chemicals used have been diluted to spread out a limited supply?

D) Were the chemicals used bought by whoever used them from a Completely And Utterly Reliable Third Party Who Is Known For Their Quality And Workmanship?

I've got a whole bunch more, but I don't want to use up too much bandwidth.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2013-08-25 10:23|| 2013-08-25 10:23|| Front Page Top

#8 Still believe that Jabhat al-Nusra (or some other fun-luvin' Al-Q or worse group) is responsible for this as a way to put international heat on the regime.

Based on Srs. Billy & Kozlowski's comments, kind of more inclined in that direction.

Especially with the Ruskis involved and controlling the WMD capability of Assad's forces. Had they been involved as they were with Sadaam, it would have worked a tad better.

Next up, blame the Juice.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2013-08-25 11:28|| 2013-08-25 11:28|| Front Page Top

#9 Syria will now permit UN WND inspection teams.

The agreement to allow U.N. access came Sunday during a meeting in Damascus between the Syrian foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, and the U.N.s top disarmament official, Angela Kane, the government said.

In a statement, the Syrian foreign minister said his government was ready to cooperate with the U.N. to expose the false allegations of the terrorist groups accusing the Syrian forces of using chemical weapons. Syrian authorities routinely refer to armed rebels as terrorists.

Syrian motives aside, I can't see the Russians getting too excited about permitting UN inspections, had the Syrian Army or Air Force been involved.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-08-25 11:40|| 2013-08-25 11:40|| Front Page Top

#10 Still believe that Jabhat al-Nusra (or some other fun-luvin' Al-Q or worse group) is responsible for this as a way to put international heat on the regime

There's a strong case to be made for that.

Al Qaeda has long been developing a chemical warfare program.

There are a significant number of Syrian rebels, besides al-Nusra, allied with AlQ.

Arab groups have long situated weapons and weapons facilities among the population.

Besides their use as shields, Arab groups have also used the population as props, like in Gaza and Egypt.

The question remains whether the release was a result from battle damage, an industrial accident, or a deliberate release.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-25 12:13|| 2013-08-25 12:13|| Front Page Top

#11 the UN and World Net Daily are teaming up?

Posted by Frank G 2013-08-25 12:26|| 2013-08-25 12:26|| Front Page Top

#12 Were the casualties from groups affiliated with AQ or from "competitors?"

Posted by James 2013-08-25 13:45|| http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com 2013-08-25 13:45|| Front Page Top

#13 If you gonna use WMDs why waste it on non-combatants? Wouldn't you go for the bosses?

Posted by BrerRabbit 2013-08-25 14:47|| 2013-08-25 14:47|| Front Page Top

#14 Not if you're trying to buy bandwidth.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-25 15:27|| 2013-08-25 15:27|| Front Page Top

#15 My guess is that the Syrian government shelled the rebels, whose hoard of chemical weapons was placed among the civilian population either to shield them from attack or in hopes that an artillery attack would result in significant civilian casualties.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2013-08-25 16:06|| 2013-08-25 16:06|| Front Page Top

#16 Yeah, there's something about "3600 dead from nerve gas!" that just grabs the headlines, dunno why...

Posted by Steve White 2013-08-25 16:07|| 2013-08-25 16:07|| Front Page Top

#17 Arab groups have long situated weapons and weapons facilities among the population.

The way the Assad government uses Lebanon's population as a shield for their anti-Israel rocket park, for example.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-08-25 16:29|| 2013-08-25 16:29|| Front Page Top

#18 I don't know what happened to the italic tags I thought I'd put in there.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-08-25 16:58|| 2013-08-25 16:58|| Front Page Top

#19 The way the Assad government uses Lebanon's population as a shield for their anti-Israel rocket park, for example.

That would be Hesb'allah, which is more an Iranian patsy than a Syrian one.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-25 19:02|| 2013-08-25 19:02|| Front Page Top

#20 Speaking of which - unless it's been removed, that schtuff in the Bekaa Velley ought to be fairly unstable or deteriorated by now.

Posted by Pappy 2013-08-25 19:04|| 2013-08-25 19:04|| Front Page Top

#21 Assad possible reason to use Chemical Weapons
It is effectively a giant "fuck you" to the international community. Assad is confident, maybe overconfident. He recaptured quasyar and is doing well in Homs. At this point it is doubtful that the rebels can prevail, even with US support. His allies are firmly standing by him, and provide a steady stream of material and "moral support" in the form of public statements of support (if the number of Russia today posts on worldnews is any indication, it's working). The US's international reputation is at a low right now, with the spying scandal and events in turkey and Egypt. Assad, abd by extension Russia china and Iran, know that a Syrian intervention is extremely unpopular in the us, and so the cw attack is a way to "call the US's bluff", so to speak, whike getting a military advantage. If Obama goes back on his word here, the US's reputation abroad will be further damaged, and American allies and potential allies may start to doubt America's commitment to their protection.

Best not try using an antagonizing name or your remark, no matter how brilliant you think it is will be scrubbed.

Posted by Lame Name 2013-08-25 20:29|| 2013-08-25 20:29|| Front Page Top

#22 ...start? Why do you think the Japanese are building ~~aircraft carriers~~ escort vessels? They know.

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-08-25 20:33|| 2013-08-25 20:33|| Front Page Top

#23 Look - a nasty nym.

*Yawn*

Pathetic. And totally unimaginative.

-8.

Posted by Barbara 2013-08-25 21:16|| 2013-08-25 21:16|| Front Page Top

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