Amnesty International believes that chemical weapons were used based on their own investigation

[Windy]

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/syria-possible-international-armed-intervention-after-alleged-chemical-weapons-attack


Has Amnesty International found evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria?
Amnesty International has gathered information from survivors of the chemical weapons attack believed to have taken place in the Eastern Ghouta region, east of the capital Damascus, on 21 August, as well as doctors who examined those killed and treated those affected by the contamination. We have also shared this and other information about the alleged chemical release with specialists in chemical agents. Based on this research and the analysis by specialists, Amnesty International believes that it is highly likely that chemical agents contaminated several neighbourhoods in the adjacent towns of Zamalka and Ain Tarma in Eastern Ghouta.

According to the specialists consulted, symptoms exhibited by those affected by the alleged chemical release are consistent with exposure to organophosphorous nerve agents. These agents are part of compounds called cholinesterase inhibitors that prevent an enzyme responsible for nerve transmissions from transmitting messages effectively to the muscles, leading to reduced muscle activity. This prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching the lungs, leading to respiratory difficulties which, in severe cases, result in death. The reduced muscle activity caused by exposure to organophosphorous nerve agents also lead to involuntary muscle movements, including twitching and convulsions, and constricted pupils, all of which are symptoms that were exhibited by those present in Zamalka and Ain Tarma during the hours after the alleged attack.

More at link

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. That has not been in question

Sarin most likely.

What is in question is who did it?

[The Straight Story]

6. The choice comes down to: Do you believe Obama or Assad

Obama says Assad was responsible.

Assad says Al Qaida.

Which leader do we trust more?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. And other rebels say Al Qaida

It is hardly black and white

Oh and I forgot, this is hardly the first attack either

[NightWatcher]

2. A few members of a wacky Japanese religious cult made/got some back in 1995

They released it in Tokyo and killed a handful of people. If members of a religious cult could make or acquire the stuff couldn't a group of rebels or an outside actor, knowing that we'd then bomb the shit out of Assad.

This smells of an outside actor to me, but what do I know, maybe Assad did this in a war that he is already winning because he wanted to be bombed by the Americans. Maybe he pays for spankings and humiliation as well.

[KittyWampus]

4. FFS, the cult did the equivalent of a dirty bomb. This was large scale. During shelling.

it smells like an outside actor because you don't have a clue and refuse to listen.

[NightWatcher]

5. refuse to listen or refuse to take everything on faith after being lied to about the last two wars?

More war is never the answer. Bombing Assad will not bring about a peaceful solution, it only escalates things. More will die, even women and kids. Plus we dont know what reactions will come because of this. What will Russia do? China? Iran? Israel?

1200 will be a small number of casualties compared to what follows.

[KittyWampus]

10. Who said bombing Assad is the answer? Not me.

[Windy]

3. more from the article

Shouldn’t states exhaust all other means before using armed force against Syria?
Amnesty International generally neither condemns nor condones the resort to the use of force and therefore does not take a position on when armed force may or may not be justified. However, we are clear that too little has been done by the international community so far to address crimes under international law committed during the conflict.

While the joint UN and Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been trying to convene an international conference to resolve the crisis in Syria, deadlock at the UN Security Council has so far hampered attempts to resolve the conflict. The Syrian government has felt free to carry on committing gross violations of human rights, including crimes under international law, confident that they will be protected by allies such as Russia and China. Unless that dynamic changes and effective pressure is applied on all parties, it is difficult to see how negotiations alone will resolve the crisis.

Targeted sanctions (namely a freeze on the assets of President Bashar al-Assad and others who may be involved in ordering or perpetrating crimes under international law), a referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court and the deployment of international human rights monitors would help contribute to conditions for fruitful negotiations aimed at a solution that respects the human rights of all Syrians.

[Daniel537]

7. Hope Alan Grayson reads this.

He made a fool of himself yesterday on CNN by speculating that there may not have even been a chemical attack. He really should keep some distance between himself and the Paul crowd.

[stevenleser]

9. He addresses that on my show that airs on Sunday nt

[Daniel537]

11. Good. Hope he apologizes for those insensitive comments.

Stuff like that detracts from his excellent work on the domestic front.