Several days ago, the Assad governement sent letter to Congress blaming the rebels.

[ProSense]

READ: Here’s What The Syrian Government Is Telling Congress

In a letter ciruclating the U.S. Capitol, the Syrian government makes its case to Congress about why they should stay out of the country's civil war.

The letter, obtained by TPM, is printed on the letterhead of the Syrian People's Assembly and signed by Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham, the assembly's speaker.

The letter presents the same arguments advanced publicly by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime the Obama administration alleges was behind the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in Damascus that killed more than 1,000 people. It asserts that the opposition groups are led by Islamic radicals and that the rebels were the ones responsible for the chemical weapons attack.

"We urge you not to rush into any irresponsible reckless action. You have the power and the responsibility today to convert the United States of America from the war track to the diplomatic path," the letter, dated Sept. 5, says. "We hope to meet there, and to talk, as civilised peoples should. We adopt a diplomatic solution, as we realize that war would be a bloody destructive catastrophic track, which does not have any benefit for all nations."

According to TPM's source, "most offices" on the Hill have received the memo. At least one other office confirmed to TPM that they had received the letter.

- more -

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/heres-what-syrian-government-is-telling-congress

"the first acknowledgment by the Syrian government that it even possesses chemical weapons"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023630685

Assad On Using Chemical Weapons As Response To U.S. Intervention: ‘It Could Happen’
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023627852

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

2. pity that the war seems to be fading, isn't it?

[JackRiddler]

5. Like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023629141

[David__77]

3. Well thankfully it looks like congress might indeed not approve the thing.

It's no thanks to the letter for Syrian legislators though.

[Uncle Joe]

4. I don't see a contradiction in your OP.

Just because Syria has chemical weapons doesn't mean the rebels don't.

As for Assad threatening to use chemical weapons should the U.S. attack, you can bet if our nation were invaded by a foreign power, we would use or at least threaten to use all means at our disposal to preempt such a thing from happening.

Thanks for the thread, ProSense.

[JackRiddler]

6. Too simple to understand, however.

[ProSense]

7. There doesn't need to be a "contradiction."

The point is Assad is lobbying Congress and blaming the rebels.

"As for Assad threatening to use chemical weapons should the U.S. attack, you can bet if our nation were invaded by a foreign power, we would use or at least threaten to use all means at our disposal to preempt such a thing from happening."

As I said in that thread, and given his letter, Assad obviously believes some of rebels are foreign forces.