FP: Secret State Department cable supports claims of chemical weapons use in Syria

A secret cable signed by the US Consulate General in Istanbul, Scott Frederick Kilner, supports claims by the Syrian opposition the regime used chemical weapons against its own people in an attack against Homs last month.

Homs (AJE)

The Consulate's intensive investigation produced a "compelling case" that claims that Syrian President Bashar al-Asad used chemical weapons were true.  The investigation included interviews with activists, doctors, and defectors, including Mustafa al-Sheikh, a former regime major general and WMD official.

Opposition figures published videos and photos of the December 23 attack.

FP spoke with doctors who treated the victims. All were sure victims fell prey to chemical weapons, not tear gas.  The medical officials attributed 5 deaths and around 100 cases of severe respiratory, nervous system, and gastrointestinal pain to the poison.

"The main symptom of the respiratory ailments was bronchial secretions," said Dr. Nashwan Abu Abdo, who spoke to FP from Homs.  "This particular symptom was the cause of death of all the people.  All of them died choking on their own secretions.

Abdo said the chemical weapons were fired by tank shell.  The symptoms of those who were further from the shelling included gastrointestinal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

According to FP, the doctors concluded the weapons where chemical and not tear gas because of three factors: the suddenness of death of those directly exposed, the large number of people affected, and hte fact that many had reoccurring symptoms after treatment, meaning the chemical agent had settled in their nervous system and/or fat.

The State Department would not comment on the contents of the secret cable. If true, the attack means the al-Asad regime crossed the "red line" delineated by President Obama last year.

"We have been very clear to the al-Asad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized," said President Obama.  "That would change my calculus.  That would change my equation."

US policy has not yet shifted to reflect the reported use of chemical weapons.

Satellite images showing Syria preparing for the use of chemical weapons in early December 2012 prompted a rare united international push against the regime.  

FP: Congresswoman leads-one person congressional delegation to Syrian Embassy

Sheila Jackson Lee is infamous on the Hill for being a terrible boss. I am charitable in saying she is known for her diva-like qualities and tormenting her staffers.

She is also well known for her antics, and this one takes the cake.  She wrote a letter asking the Members of Congress to join her at the Syrian Embassy in Washington "to ask for an immediate cease-fire, a resumption of international mediation, and a peaceful end to the conflict."

Not surprisingly, not one other member joined her on her meeting at the Syrian Embassy to "express ur disapproval of actions taken by President Bashar al-Assad's troops against the people of Syria."

Not only is she crazy, she's stupid for letting herself be used by the al-Assad regime.

According to one congressional aide, "It's hard to show your support for the people of Syria by legitimizing a regime that continues to brutalize them."

Yikes. 

Guest post: The Syrian people are one

By Faress Jouejati

Despite the impressive numbers of Bashar al-Assad’s security apparatus, the Syrian army is not all that powerful. Furthermore, Syrian security forces are now tired and demoralized. Thus, an important show of outside force would cause major cracks in the Syrian army. Let us not forget that there already is foreign intervention in Syria: Russia, Iran, and Hizbullah have all equipped the Syrian army with highly lethal material. The latter two have sent troops to support the regime’s barbaric crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Yes, the weapons al-Assad has are superior to what we can send the Free Syria Army, but, forget not, he is using this military superiority against civilians. It would be outrageous for us to simply sit and watch -- and debate whether we should save civilian lives or not intervene. More than 8,000 have already been murdered: a catastrophe is looming and the civilian casualties will be massive if all we do is flock from one meeting to the next hoping that diplomacy and more sanctions will put an end to state-sponsored terrorism.

Arming the FSA is the best bet to protect the civilians. The arms sent to the FSA would not necessarily be used in acts of vengeance: Syria does not have the kind of sectarian strife that Lebanon, for example, has. Plus, the type of Islam prevalent in Syria is not an extremist Salafist type, to say nothing of the fact that the FSA has rejected the assistance of al-Qaeda. In any case, it is the convoluted Friends of Assad who are bent on inciting sectarianism among the protesters who, to this day, chant, “al shaab al surie wahed (the Syrian people are one).”

To Syrians still on the fence, I say this: the free people of Syria are not rising to please the East or West. They are not paying blood to replace one set of tyrants with another. Remaining silent, however, makes the Revolution more vulnerable to groups with separate agendas from the demands of the Syrian people—freedom, democracy, equality, and justice.

A safe-zone should be established inside Syrian territory, funded by the Gulf and controlled by Turkey. This will give Syrians access to humanitarian relief and provide the FSA with a base out of which to operate. In addition to military equipment, what the FSA needs urgently is communications equipment: stronger command-and-control would give them an edge since they already have the advantage in mobility. The high motivation of the FSA's foot soldiers makes up for the deficit in numbers.

Given the above, it makes sense to support the Syrian people and equip the Free Syria Army. The Syrian people have the right to access medical supplies and weapons to save and protect their families. We must make the presently lopsided balance of power a more equal playing field.