Syria accuses rebels of using chemical weapons

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syrian state media accused rebels of using chemical arms on Saturday against government troops trying to storm a contested neighborhood of Damascus, claiming a major army offensive in recent days had forced the opposition fighters to resort to such weapons "as their last card."

State TV broadcast images of plastic jugs, gas masks, vials of an unspecified medication, explosives and other items that it said were seized from rebel hideouts. It did not, however, show any video of soldiers reportedly affected by toxic gas in the fighting in the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus.

Still, the claims could muddy the debate about who was responsible for an alleged gas attack on rebel-held suburbs of the capital on Wednesday that activists say killed more than 130 people. That attack has spurred demands for an independent investigation and renewed talk of potential international military action if chemical weapons were indeed used.

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With the pressure increasing on the regime to comply, Syria's state media alleged on Saturday that rebels in the contested district of Jobar had used chemical weapons against government troops advancing into the area.

The state news agency said several government troops who took part in an offensive experienced severe trouble breathing or even "suffocation" after "armed terrorist groups used chemical weapons." It was not clear what was meant by "suffocation" and the report mentioned no fatalities among the troops.

The government refers to rebels fighting to topple Assad as "terrorists."

"The Syrian Army achieved major progress in the past days and for that reason, the terrorist groups used chemical weapons as their last card," the Syrian state TV said.

That report was followed by an unusual string of breaking alerts on the TV's news scroll that made a series of claims related to the alleged use of chemical arms by rebels in the Jobar neighborhood.

One message cited a Syrian TV journalist who is embedded with the troops in the district who said the army confiscated an arms cache that included gas masks and several barrels with "made in Saudi Arabia" stamped on them. It did not say what was in the barrels, but appeared to suggest that some sort of chemical agent was inside and supplied by Saudi Arabia, the region's Sunni Muslim power and a staunch supporter of Syria's Sunni-led revolt.

Another news scroll said that troops, after overrunning rebel positions, discovered antidotes following exposure to chemical agents. The TV said the medicines were produced by a Qatari-German medical supplies company. Qatar is another strong supporter of the Syrian rebels.

The report could not be immediately verified.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-world/20130824/ML-Syria/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

All the fatalities occurred on the side of the attackers and none on the side of the alleged targets? Yeah, sure. That's credible.

[Peikko 1,575]

It is increasingly clear that chemical weapons were used. I have no idea what the idea is behind deploying chemical weapons that are inevitably going to harm the general population more than anyone else, but it's cynical and horrific.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syrian state media accused rebels of using chemical arms on Saturday against government troops trying to storm a contested neighborhood of Damascus, claiming a major army offensive in recent days had forced the opposition fighters to resort to such weapons "as their last card."

State TV broadcast images of plastic jugs, gas masks, vials of an unspecified medication, explosives and other items that it said were seized from rebel hideouts. It did not, however, show any video of soldiers reportedly affected by toxic gas in the fighting in the Jobar neighborhood of Damascus.

Still, the claims could muddy the debate about who was responsible for an alleged gas attack on rebel-held suburbs of the capital on Wednesday that activists say killed more than 130 people. That attack has spurred demands for an independent investigation and renewed talk of potential international military action if chemical weapons were indeed used.

___________

With the pressure increasing on the regime to comply, Syria's state media alleged on Saturday that rebels in the contested district of Jobar had used chemical weapons against government troops advancing into the area.

The state news agency said several government troops who took part in an offensive experienced severe trouble breathing or even "suffocation" after "armed terrorist groups used chemical weapons." It was not clear what was meant by "suffocation" and the report mentioned no fatalities among the troops.

The government refers to rebels fighting to topple Assad as "terrorists."

"The Syrian Army achieved major progress in the past days and for that reason, the terrorist groups used chemical weapons as their last card," the Syrian state TV said.

That report was followed by an unusual string of breaking alerts on the TV's news scroll that made a series of claims related to the alleged use of chemical arms by rebels in the Jobar neighborhood.

One message cited a Syrian TV journalist who is embedded with the troops in the district who said the army confiscated an arms cache that included gas masks and several barrels with "made in Saudi Arabia" stamped on them. It did not say what was in the barrels, but appeared to suggest that some sort of chemical agent was inside and supplied by Saudi Arabia, the region's Sunni Muslim power and a staunch supporter of Syria's Sunni-led revolt.

Another news scroll said that troops, after overrunning rebel positions, discovered antidotes following exposure to chemical agents. The TV said the medicines were produced by a Qatari-German medical supplies company. Qatar is another strong supporter of the Syrian rebels.

The report could not be immediately verified.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-world/20130824/ML-Syria/

who's side are we on? I lost track?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

who's side are we on? I lost track?

According to the military, nobody's. According to Hagel and McCain, we are ready to support the rebels.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

Considering AQ is the Joker in the deck = credible. IMO - they would have no hesitation - AQ car bombs / suicide bombs already prove their attitudes about civ death. New & improved = Chems.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

According to the military, nobody's. According to Hagel and McCain, we are ready to support the rebels.

I hope John is handed his walking papers. He's had his good times but now.. he's getting creepy. I wonder if dementia is setting in. Arizona needs to retire him.

& The 1 and only correct FP decision our POTUS has made = Stay out of the Syria conflict...but now...looks like he's gonna blow this too & maintain his perfect FP batting average of ZERO. The man makes Jimmy Carter look good. I do the Scooby Doo head shake (spontaneously) every time I recognize that fact.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Al Qaeda is getting smart. If we go into Syria, we better be careful!

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I hope John is handed his walking papers. He's had his good times but now.. he's getting creepy. I wonder if dementia is setting in. Arizona needs to retire him.

& The 1 and only correct FP decision our POTUS has made = Stay out of the Syria conflict...but now...looks like he's gonna blow this too & maintain his perfect FP batting average of ZERO. The man makes Jimmy Carter look good. I do the Scooby Doo head shake (spontaneously) every time I recognize that fact.

No fan of John M,Mitt R or any of the current Neocons.. Bring back the old Libertarian minded repubs that stood for principle.

I doubt we would know the difference if Mitt had won instead of the current puppet.

The religious right screwed the Pubs up.

I have been reading about Barry Goldwater. Man was ahead of his time.

[GandD 5,966]

I don't know that I believe the Syrian government is any more capable of being this dumb than the opposition is capable of being this smart. So......... I know nothing and suspect all.