U.S. Officials say 'no smoking gun' implicating Assad in chemical attack

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Officials say 'no smoking gun' implicating Assad in chemical attack

By Mark Hosenball and Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON | Thu Aug 29, 2013 1:14pm EDT

(Reuters) - The U.S. and its allies have "no smoking gun" proving Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad personally ordered his forces to use chemical weapons to attack a rebel-held Damascus neighborhood, U.S. national security officials said on Thursday.

In secret intelligence assessments and a still-unreleased report summarizing U.S. intelligence on the alleged gas attack on August 21, U.S. agencies express high confidence that Syrian government forces carried out the attack, and that Assad's government therefore bears responsibility, the officials said.

"This was not a rogue operation," one U.S. official said.

However the evidence does not prove that Assad himself ordered that chemical munitions be used, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/29/us-syria-crisis-usa-idUSBRE97S0YB20130829

[cthulu2016]

1. But we cannot wait for a smoking gun that comes in the form of...

something or another.

[Supersedeas]

8. what this Admin needs is a paid consultant like Condi or maybe Judith Miller

[VanillaRhapsody]

2. Oh right yeah....like it wouldn't be Obama's responsibility if his military did this...

makes perfect sense...All of you blaming the drone attacks on Obama can now take a flying leap...cause it was not HIM controlling the planes that do it!

[progressoid]

5. So,

you're saying that the President is responsible for drone attacks? Or are you saying that our drone attacks are the result of rogue factions in our military?

[VanillaRhapsody]

7. I am saying if we are using them....guess who decides?

Are you trying to say rogue factions of the Syrian military did the chemical weapons?

[JI7]

9. yeah, i'm wondering what exactly this means

the leader is never there giving every specific instruction. but they do give the go ahead to certain people who direct others what to do.

is the implication that Assad did not know and someone went against him in using it?

[progressoid]

10. OK.

So even though Obama doesn't physically fly the drones, he is responsible.

[VanillaRhapsody]

11. did someone question that? I think not....but this seemed questioned if Assad was responsible

for what HIS military does. Mkay?

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. and Putin is not really in charge of Russia and has no control over Snowden's asylum either!

totally believe both these lines of reasoning!

[Faryn Balyncd]

4. Is there a glimmer of hope that we may step back from the brink, & not initiate a misguided...

...intervention, one which 91% of Americans oppose?


We are certainly not out of the woods (or rather, away from the brink) yet, but this sounds like level heads may becoming involved.

[VanillaRhapsody]

12. because 80% think it would take boots on the ground...

put it into a little context for them and I think you would find differently

[Faryn Balyncd]

13. WaPo: US Militaty Officers Have Deep Doubts About the Wisdom of Strike on Syria

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-military-officers-have-deep-doubts-about-impact-wisdom-of-a-us-strike-on-syria/2013/08/29/825dd5d4-10ee-11e3-b4cb-fd7ce041d814_story.html


What specifically would you propose?

[KurtNYC]

6. I hate euphemisms in communications which are this important

silver bullets
shots across bows
smoking guns

Given the international audience for our statements, perhaps we could avoid all idioms and euphemisms. Being understood is important here.