Monday, September 2, 2013

Kapil Komireddi, "A U.S. Strike Would Be Self-Wounding": Whom Is CNN Seeking to Delude?

In an opinion piece entitled "A U.S. strike would be self-wounding" (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/02/opinion/komireddi-syria/index.html?hpt=hp_c1), which is currently receiving top online billing from CNN, Kapil Komireddi (Who is this joker person?) informs us:

"So what will the United States do the next time chemical weapons are used in Syria? More than 1,000 deaths are prompting the United States -- despite the absence of conclusive evidence linking the Assad regime to the crime -- to intervene."

Absence of conclusive evidence? Yeah, right.

On the other hand, Russian President Putin is also claiming that it would have been "utter nonsense" for Assad to use chemical weapons (see: http://news.yahoo.com/putin-says-utter-nonsense-assad-chemical-weapons-104514783.html), and we all know that there is no one more credible than good old Vladimir . . .

What are we being told by the US government? As stated in "Government Assessment of the Syrian Government’s Use of Chemical Weapons on August 21, 2013" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/30/government-assessment-syrian-government-s-use-chemical-weapons-august-21) issued by the White House (my emphasis in red):

"A large body of independent sources indicates that a chemical weapons attack took place in the Damascus suburbs on August 21. In addition to U.S. intelligence information, there are accounts from international and Syrian medical personnel; videos; witness accounts; thousands of social media reports from at least 12 different locations in the Damascus area; journalist accounts; and reports from highly credible nongovernmental organizations.

A preliminary U.S. government assessment determined that 1,429 people were killed in the chemical weapons attack, including at least 426 children, though this assessment will certainly evolve as we obtain more information.

We assess with high confidence that the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attack against opposition elements in the Damascus suburbs on August 21. We assess that the scenario in which the opposition executed the attack on August 21 is highly unlikely. The body of information used to make this assessment includes intelligence pertaining to the regime’s preparations for this attack and its means of delivery, multiple streams of intelligence about the attack itself and its effect, our post-attack observations, and the differences between the capabilities of the regime and the opposition. Our high confidence assessment is the strongest position that the U.S. Intelligence Community can take short of confirmation. We will continue to seek additional information to close gaps in our understanding of what took place."

Komireddi would have us believe that there is serious reason for doubt whether the Assad regime was responsible for this attack on the rebel-controlled outskirts of Damascus? Perhaps he would also have us believe in Santa Claus.

The real question which we should be asking ourselves: Why is CNN busy spreading this horse manure?

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