U.N. INSPECTORS TOLD ONLY TO CONFIRM GAS ATTACK: NOT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky has been reported as saying that the mandate of the UN inspectors in Damascus investigating last weeks gas attacks is only to determine if chemical weapons were used; not who used them. Clearly, chemical weapons have been used and few doubt it but, while it is important that the evidence of such use is collected and examined, surely it would be equally important for the inspectors to gather evidence that might determine who had used these weapons. Apart from anything else, such evidence would be essential when prosecuting those responsible when they are captured and charged with war crimes – regardless of who they are.

One should also be reminded that the rebels had tried this false flag gas attack scenario before when they launched an attack using sarin gas against the Syrian town of Aleppo in March this year. They tried to blame the Syrian government for that as well even though some of the casualties were Syrian soldiers.

The US and their allies seem to have already made up their minds about who was responsible for the latest attack, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, and are awaiting only confirmation that chemical weapons were indeed used before launching an all-out attack against Syria.