Russia says it has proof rebels behind deadly chemical attack in Syria

[Eugene]

Source: Haaretz

Russia says it has proof rebels behind deadly chemical attack in Syria

By Haaretz and DPA | Sep. 18, 2013 | 6:35 PM

A senior Russian official Wednesday said that Syria had handed over new evidence showing that rebels had used chemical weapons in a deadly attack near Damascus last month.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said details provided by the Syrian government would bolster claims supported by Moscow that President Bashar Assad was not responsible for the August 21 attack, which the United States says killed more than 1,400 people.

"We believe that this will strengthen evidence that the rebels were involved in using chemical weapons," he said in comments carried by Russia's Itar Tass state news agency.

Ryabkov, whose country is a major ally of Syria, also accused the United Nations of producing a biased report on the attack.

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Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.547805

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Samantha Power - down a bit in the article

Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, told the UN General Assembly Wednesday that "it defies logic" to think that the rebels would have carried out the attack, in an area which they themselves controlled. Power called for a "robust, binding" Security Council resolution to implement the U.S.-Russian accord, which plans to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control, and destroy them.

It defies logic.

If it does not to Russia - then what will they do? Will they engage in an unjust war? <--- I don't think so. . . but nice try Russia trying to get Americans to pay attention when by and large they have moved onto the shiniest newest thing.

[leveymg]

3. It also defies logic that the regime would carry this out when and where it did with UN inspectors

in town. Also, since the regime has whole bunkers full of modern chemical weapons, rockets, missiles and artillery shells to deliver them, why would they fire off improvised rockets -- by all accounts inaccurate and have limited range -- that did the vast majority of the killing in Eastern Damascus?

Particularly, it defies logic to contend that these improvised rockets -- the 333mm "flying trash cans" or "truck mufflers", as they've been called -- with an observed range of only 2 miles could have been fired from a location at least six miles to the west, and yet landed on target in a nice, tightly-bunched pattern six or more miles from the supposed launch site? That defies physics.

It is, of course, possible that the 333s were launched from a much closer location in the east -- such as the grounds of the October Panorama Military Museum (2 miles from Zamala/Ein Tamar) or from Jobar District, which is adjacent to the target zone -- but that would go against earlier State Dept. assertions (now being repeated by Power) that all the rockets were launched from regime-controlled territory.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Ahh

But none of that matters now. Folks around here have moved onto the newest shiniest thing.

[leveymg]

5. It's just going to come back to bite us all by year's end.

But, when it does, everyone will be so weary and burdened down with misinformation and disinformation, there won't be nearly as much resistance. There's a false consensus already developing around the issues I've identified.

Shit. Not again.

[sharp_stick]

2. Funny how they

haven't made any of it available yet. I'm willing to wager that the "evidence" doesn't make it very far.

[ehcross]

6. Russia says it has proof rebels behind deadly chemical attack in Syria

A senior Russian oficial has "proof" rebels behind deadly chemical attack in Syria.
The world keeps waiting for such a "proof" but nothing comes out. No videos, no credible witnesses.
How come, if said Russian official says Russia has "proof"?