Syria

[Suff]

There were unconfirmed reports that the rebels had managed to get their hands on some of the chemical weapons stockpile....

I just don't believe the regime would have done this. They know what the consequences would be.

[KateLMead]

Horrific situation Suff. My heart bleeds for the innocent. Not much support as a Peace Envoy from B'Liar.. Maybe it might be a good idea for him to gift a few million of the swag he has made following invading and destroying Iraq.

[pederito1]

I see the yanks are sending some of their cruise missiles to the area. A few on Damascus should help no end.

[Workingman]

The Russians are convinced that it was a rebel stunt that backfired. The Iranians acknowledge that chemical weapons were used, but also think that the rebels were responsible. The Israeli media has photos of what look like 45 gal drums filled with a mix of chemicals with the gasses flowing over the sides..... They are not convinced it was Assad's side. Reports that 355 died from a total of 3600 poisoned - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - are nowhere near the numbers expected of weapons grade chemical weapons.

None of this is available for analysis in the UK media, you have to look elsewhere.

[Suff]

I haven't been looking but if only 355 died from that number impacted, then it was not weapons grade. Weapons grade mortality, for blood agent which is what it was looking like, is 100% for the unprotected in the first 30 minutes, so long as the concentration is high enough. Also there were no reports of a barrage or any other kind of explosion. All military chemical weapons are delivered by either artillery or by airstrike...

As WM says, I doubt we will hear the reality in the western press. Hopefully Russia and China have enough influence with the inspectors to get the truth. That, in itself is an absolute travesty of democracy that we would have to rely in China to get us the truth of a situation....

Somebody wants another war. We should decline.

[cromwell]

As WM says, I doubt we will hear the reality in the western press. .

You can put the mortgage on that!
The Syrians have offered to let the UN weapons inspectors in and the USA and UK have said it is "too late".

Somebody wants another war. We should decline.

Absolutely. Just ask William Hague when he thinks the first moves against Iran will be and watch him twitch.

[Workingman]

I love the way that the gas mask has entered the social conscious, via the media, as the protection from chemical agents. Film people in tee shirts, shorts and flip-flops wearing the ubiquitous gas mask and it is assumed that they are protected.

They are not, not against nerve, blood or blister agents. These agent can be absorbed through the skin..... it's why NATO, and other forces, wear a full NBC suits. I used to be a trained Shelter Marshall in the RAF and I can tell you that even CS (crowd control) can irritate the skin in heavy concentrations.

It is another reason why I remain sceptical about the latest Syrian "atrocity".

[Suff]

Stupid isn't it.

V type nerve will kill you if 1,000th of a drop hit's your unprotected skin. Unless, of course, you get the antidote in 30 seconds....

I saw the "It's too late" in the news today. Sorry but it's never "too late" for the truth. Unless, of course, you started a war on the lies that is!

[Workingman]

My first impression when I saw the news pictures of the victims being revived with pump inhalers, was that their condition was the result of choking agent use.

Now these agents are "chemical weapons" but in modern terms some of them have the same relative position that air pistols have to AK47s- both are guns.

The thing about choking agents is that the chemicals required to make a rudimentary form are lying about in a lot of kitchens and garden sheds.

[cromwell]

According to the Telegraph the UK government is pressing for 'limited' missile strikes on Syria.
I think that what we are doing is shameful; as well as that it's liable to blow up in our face.
There is a big story about what is happening in the middle east and why we are doing it, but imo we surely aren't being told what it is, we're just being fed more lies.