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Dispatches from
STEPHEN LENDMAN
O bama is incrementally upping the stakes in Syria – building pressure, preparing for Hillary’s takeover in January, a near certainty as things now stand – things rigged for her as Trump justifiably claims.
Escalated conflict to oust Assad is virtually certain with her as commander-in-chief of America’s military. A dubious, likely fabricated, confidential UN report to Security Council members throws fuel on the raging (made in the USA) Syria fire.
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A UN-led inquiry unjustifiably claimed Syrian forces used chemical weapons three times – citing “sufficient (unsubstantiated) information.” One attack on Qmenas near Idlib city “was caused by a Syrian Arab Armed Forces helicopter dropping a device from a high altitude, which hit the ground and released the toxic substance that affected the population,” the report claimed.
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Investigators believe chlorine gas was used – its weaponized use banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. It’s readily available to US-supported terrorists, they didn’t explain – or say these elements used various toxic substances before numerous times. Security Council members will discuss the report’s findings in closed session next week – Russia, and likely China, virtually certain to veto any unjustifiable US, UK and French anti-Syrian measures proposed.
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Ahead of debating the issue next week, Russia questioned the inquiry’s findings, calling alleged evidence inconclusive. Numerous times before, Syria was falsely accused of CW attacks carried out by US-backed terrorists. Under a 2013 Russia/US brokered deal, Syria agreed to destroy its entire CW stockpile. On January 4, 2016, the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said Damascus “complete(d) (the) destruction of all (its) chemical weapons…”
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At the time, OPCW director-general Ahmet Uzumcu said “(t)his process closes an important chapter in the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapon(s) programme…” No verifiable evidence suggests any remain. Plenty indicates US-supported terrorists have access to toxic weapons, using them at their discretion.
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The Security Council resolution supporting Syria’s agreement to destroy its CW stockpile included a provision, saying if noncompliance occurred, measures under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter would be imposed – sanctions and/or use of military force, another resolution needed for implementation, Russia, and likely China, virtually certain to veto any draft proposed.
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Falsely accusing Damascus and Russia of war crimes builds pressure for escalated war once Hillary assumes power – including likely direct US intervention against Syrian military targets. Will direct confrontation with Russia follow? Are things headed for possible nuclear war? Bipartisan neocons infesting Washington under Hillary’s leadership make the unthinkable perhaps likely.
NOTE: ALL IMAGE CAPTIONS, PULL QUOTES AND COMMENTARY BY THE EDITORS, NOT THE AUTHORS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STEPHEN LENDMAN lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." ( http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html ) Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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