Lavrov: Insurgents Have Chemical Weapons

Stephen Lendman

It's no secret. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed what he said many times before. Russia has clear evidence. It proves Western-enlisted death squads have CWs. It proves they use them.

On Saturday, Russia's Channel One interviewed Lavrov. He said Moscow intercepted a phone call between two insurgents. They discussed using chemical weapons. Russia informed Washington and other anti-Assad governments. It called on them "to make sure that their 'charges' kept their hands off any chemical weapons or their components, to say nothing of using them." According to Lavrov:

"We are certain that militants have more than once attempted such provocations. Therefore, the direct sponsors of opposition forces who offer them support must also see to it that they give up on further provocations."

Syria must play the lead role in its own security.

"The main idea is to let OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) experts play the first fiddle, while the UN plays a supporting role by providing additional personnel if needed and, first and foremost, by protecting watchdogs that are to inspect Syrian chemical arms depots as listed by the country's government. Of course, we are still to agree on the details of this plan. In this sense, the UN Security Council's resolution will entitle the UN secretary general to come forth with his recommendations during consultations with the OPCW's chief."

Assad and opposition forces are obligated to observe Security Council provisions to eliminate all chemical weapons in Syria. UN member states must not let insurgents with chemical weapons use their territories. Security Council Resolution 2118 "stresses chemical weapons must not fall into the hands of non-governmental entities, which the opposition is," said Lavrov. "It also emphasizes that all UN member states, primarily Syria's neighbors, must take comprehensive measures to prevent the use of their territories for the provision of the opposition with chemical weapons and their components," he added.

Insurgents used chemical weapons numerous times. Clear evidence proves it. Previous articles discussed it in detail. It bears repeating. It's vital to do. It's to point fingers the right way. It's to assign blame where it belongs. It's to set the record straight. It's to absolve Assad of crimes he didn't commit.

On March 19, insurgents attacked Khan-al Assal with chemical toxins. It's a suburban Aleppo town. Syrian forces control it.

Anti-Assad forces fired a homemade rocket. Shell fragments proved it wasn't factory made. It contained RDX nitroamine. It wasn't industrial grade. It's not what Syria has. Insurgents produced it.

A previous article quoted Syria's UN envoy Bashar Jaafari saying:

"The Syrian authorities have discovered yesterday in the city of Banias 281 barrels filled with dangerous, hazardous chemical materials."

Amounts found were "capable of destroying a whole city, if not the whole country," he added. Toxic substances include 79 barrels of polyethylene glycol (PEG), 67 barrels of mono ethylene glycol, 25 barrels of mono ethanol (or ethanolamine), 68 barrels of diethanolamine (DEA), and 42 barrels of triethanolamine (TEA). Jaafari said chemicals found were "in a secret storage (area) controlled and monitored by the armed terrorist groups."

On August 23, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined "Two phone calls affirm the use of chemical weapons in Homs by terrorists," saying:

"A phone call between a terrorist affiliated to the so-called 'Shuhada al-Bayada Battalion' in Homs and his boss who was called Adulbasit from Saudi Arabia uncovered that terrorists used the chemical weapons in Deir Ballba in Homs countryside. During a phone call broadcast on the Syrian TV Channel, the terrorist said that his group which comprises 200 terrorists escaped from al-Bayadah to al-Daar al-Kabera through a tunnel, adding that they needed to buy weapons to attack the City of Homs. The Saudi financier who was present in Cairo asked the Syrian terrorists about details on his group and the way they will receive the money, admitting his support to terrorists in Daraa and Damascus Countryside, in turn the Syria terrorist told him that one of the achievements of his 'Battalion' was the use of chemical weapons in Deir Ballba. In the same context, another phone call reveled the cooperation between tow terrorist groups to bring two bottles of Sarin Gas from Barzeh neighborhood in Damascus."

Washington, key NATO partners, Israel and rogue Arab states are waging war on Syria. Weapons and munitions are supplied. So are toxic agents. Previous articles explained in detail. Information discussed bears repeating. Pentagon contractors are involved. They provide insurgents with CW training.

Syrian forces seized a warehouse. It contained barrels marked "Made in KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)." Protective masks were found. So were drugs used when inhaling chemicals. No evidence links Syrian forces to CW use any time throughout months of conflict. Plenty proves insurgents used sarin and other toxic agents. They did numerous times. They've been caught red-handed. Initial reports were buried and ignored. Assad's wrongfully blamed. He had nothing to do with attacking Ghouta. Western-enlisted death squads bear full responsibility.

● In March, insurgents fired homemade rockets containing CL 17. It's a form of chlorine. It induces vomiting, fainting, suffocation and seizures.
● In late May, Turkish police arrested 12 suspected Al Nusra fighters. They were seized in southern Turkey. They were caught red-handed with a two gm cylinder of sarin nerve gas.
● Last December, an insurgent video showed them testing chemical weapons on lab rabbits. Threats to use them against Assad loyalists followed.

Lab equipment and chemical containers were shown. Some bore the Turkish chemical company Tekkim name. An Arabic text wall poster read, "The Almighty Wind Brigade (Kateebat A Reeh Al Sarsar)." A man was shown mixing chemicals in a beaker. It emits gas. Rabbits in a glass box had convulsions. They collapsed and died.

A previous article discussed a no longer accessible January 29, 2013 UK Daily Mail report headlined "US 'backed plan to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and blame it on Assad's regime,' " saying:

"Leaked emails have allegedly proved that the White House gave the green light to a chemical weapons attack in Syria that could be blamed on Assad's regime and in turn, spur international military action in the devastated country. A report released on Monday contains an email exchange between two senior officials at British-based contractor Britam Defence where a scheme 'approved by Washington' is outlined explaining that Qatar would fund rebel forces in Syria to use chemical weapons."

Another previous article cited Mint Press News headlining "Exclusive: Syrians in Ghouta Claim Saudi-Supplied Rebels Behind Chemical Attack," saying:

"Rebels and local residents in Ghouta accuse Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan of providing chemical weapons to an al-Qaida linked rebel group."

Insurgents had "tube-like" weapons. Others were in a "huge gas bottle." The same article quoted UN human rights investigator Carla del Ponte. Last May, she said:

"According to the testimonies we have gathered, the rebels have used chemical weapons, making use of sarin gas. We still have to deepen our investigation, verify and confirm (the findings) through new witness testimony, but according to what we have established so far, it is at the moment opponents of the regime who are using sarin gas."

Russia knows all of the above and more. So do other UN member states. It bears repeating. Extremist anti-Assad elements alone used chemical weapons. They've done so numerous times. Clear evidence proves it. They bear full responsibility for attacking Ghouta. Blaming Assad doesn't wash.

Syria's fully committed to eliminating its CWs. On September 28, Lebanon's al-Manar TV interviewed Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi. He welcomed Security Council Resolution 2118. He said Damascus fully intends to comply with all its provisions. It'll work cooperatively with OPCW inspectors. He said

"Syria's decision on joining the CWC came from the state's commitment to protect its people through avoiding a US-western military aggression and to prevent more killing of innocents and protecting the establishments and national and economic infrastructure."

Damascus is going all out to resolve conflict conditions diplomatically, he stressed. It'll participate in Geneva II. It'll do so with no preconditions. It'll engage all involved nations in constructive dialogue. It'll do so with "all national people, inside and outside Syria, who believe that the solution to the crisis is a national solution far from any foreign interference or violation of the national sovereignty, but we will not talk with terrorists," he added. He condemned Saudi Arabia for continuing to supply funding, weapons, and political support. Washington, Britain, France, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan and Israeli do the same thing.

Obama calls the shots. Syria is his war. He launched it. He wants Assad toppled. Security Council Resolution 2118 changes nothing. An uneasy calm may not last long. It's a convenient illusion. It ignores continued Syrian army/insurgent clashes. It turns a blind eye to dozens more daily deaths. One bloody day follows others.

Believing Syria's conflict can be resolved diplomatically requires blind faith. Escalated conflict looms. Pretexts will be invented to do so. Cruise missile diplomacy may follow. Bombs away awaits Obama's order. He wants another imperial trophy. He's hell bent on getting it.

Syria may end up as ravaged, destroyed, dysfunctional, anarchical, and dystopian as Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya before he's through. Rogue leaders operate that way. Obama's by far the worst.
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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He has devoted his time and efforts to progressive causes and organizations, all involved in working for a more humane and just world for all people everywhere, but especially for the most needy, disadvantaged and oppressed. His efforts since summer 2005 have included writing on a broad range of vital topics ranging from war and peace; social, economic and political equity for all; and justice for all the oppressed peoples of the world like the long-suffering people of Haiti and the Palestinians. He also co-hosts The Global Research News Hour, gives occasional public talks, and appears frequently on radio and at times television. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. Also visit his blog and listen to The Lendman News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening. His new book "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" can be ordered HERE. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
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