President Donald Trump has responded to the latest atrocity in Syria and the use of chemical weapons, calling Syrian President Bahar al-Assad an “animal” and linking Iran and Russia to the barbaric act. He said there is a “big price to pay.”
There are many questions arising from Trump’s statement on Twitter. The most important are: what will the United States do in response and how will America’s actions affect its deteriorating relations with Russia?
There already is wide agreement in the White House, National Security Council, State Department and Department of Homeland Security (nothing yet from the Pentagon) that Assad and his allies have carried out an “atrocity” for which, as Trump tweeted, had “no reason whatsoever.”
Chemical weapons have limited battlefield use. When they were used in World War I to clean out allied trenches, their effectiveness had mixed results. A lot of troops were killed but the war’s outcome was not clearly affected. The same result occurred many years later in the battle of al-Faw Peninsula between Iraq and Iran.
Both sides used chemical agents, but only Iraq had nerve gas in the form of Sarin and Tabun, which was mixed with other poisons to use against the Iranians. Unfortunately for Iraqi troops, the mixture was extraordinarily dangerous to handle and blew back in their faces when released, leaving many Iraqi soldiers sick or dead. It is far from clear whether chemical weapons made any difference in the al-Faw battle.
Later Saddam Hussein used a variety of chemical agents, including Sarin, against the Kurds, with one of the worst examples being the assault on Halabja, a Kurdish town in Iraq. This was clearly an attack on civilians because men of fighting age had already left the town.
The chemical attack was designed to punish the Kurds for supporting the Kurdish independence movement. The attack left thousands dead, and many more so sick they would later die from diseases such as respiratory ailments and cancers. Like al-Faw, Saddam used a “cocktail” of poisonous agents in Halabja, making medical treatment difficult if not impossible.
It can be argued that Saddam’s Halabja episode paid off by discouraging Kurdish fighters and disheartening the pro-Kurdish independence movement. Unfortunately, Western powers were not sufficiently enraged by Saddam’s attacks on civilians to take any meaningful counter-action.
President Trump, however, holds the distinction of taking military action after a chemical attack killed at least 80 people, mainly civilians, in two Syrian towns a year ago. He punished the Syrians by launching 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Al Shayrat airfield from which the Sarin-nerve gas attacks were launched. The attack destroyed considerable aircraft and equipment.
Trump has made it clear that both the Russians and the Iranians share responsibility with Assad for the latest attack on the rebel-held town of Douma near Damascus. About 40 people died in the attack, according to still-unconfirmed reports, and many more, especially children, are being treated for chemical exposure.
There is significant photographic evidence of the suffering of the children, although according to the President, the area is sealed off by the Syrian army and remains inaccessible. The President has called for access to provide medical help for the survivors.
There is no doubt President Trump will take action. The question is, what should he do?
The easiest solution would be to launch an aerial attack on the Syrian army or air force, or both. If the administration takes this step, it’s unlikely to have any long-term impact on the Syrian civil war, which is looking more like a Russian-Iranian-Assad victory. The consequences of any such attack will no doubt bring more suffering to civilians caught in the middle.
But there are other steps that could be taken to discourage this kind of behavior in future.
On the military side, these steps might include attacks on Syria’s military command centers or the regime’s political centers. These targets have not been hit in recent years by the United States and its coalition partners, nor by Israel, which has repeatedly been provoked by Iranian missiles launched from Syria by Hezbollah terrorists.
Bringing the attack directly to the perpetrators of the chemical assault could be the one message they truly understand.
Trump also has to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, making it clear that Russia must stop providing intelligence services to those who use poisons, including nerve gas. Putin must be convinced to stop Assad from using chemical weapons. While the likely Russian reaction will be to deny any culpability, a response like this is unacceptable and will endanger any chance the Russians have of working out acceptable deals on sensitive issues such as arms control or a Ukrainian settlement.
Trump does not need any encouragement to be tough against Syria, Iran and Russia. If the Syrians thought they would get away with yet another chemical attack because President Trump wants to get out of Syria, they badly miscalculated. Did Putin also make yet another blunder?
Get out Trump! You are being manipulated by the CIA, Pentagon and US neocons.
Poor children; but when is "fake news fake news"? Journalists should reread: ‘Manufacturing Consent", by Noam Chomsky. Assad & Putin are ‘bad dictators’ (apparently stupid enough to use traceable poisons), Netanyahu is a ‘good one’ (cutting water supplies). As soon as Trump ‘waivers’ on Syria, out come the gas photos (making the case for a ‘deep state’). The game never changes:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayirah_testimony
Is the Asia Times ruled by insane people? Publish a heap of lies, by a contumacious liar like Stephen Bryen? I do not read this newspaper anymore.
Stephen Bryen wants those held responsible to pay———-so who is responsible I dare ask————maybe the all knowing Mr Bryen can enlighten us serfs with his wisdom and knowledge!!
Why is Asia Times being compllict in this war-mongering?
Even The New York Times prints all Trump’s Trash Talk about the Syrian chemical attack but then also says:
"It was not possible to independently verify the reports because Douma is surrounded by Syrian government forces, which prevent access by journalists, aid workers and investigators."
Come on, Asia Times, this is about WAR in capital letters. You have a responsibility to yourselves and to everyone else.
Any moderately intelligent person realizes that there hasn’t been any attack with chemical weapons by Syria. Because they aren’t effective, because they aren’t necessary, because Syria is winning the war without them. Stupid people – or very dishonest ones – may insist on such falsity, hoping a couple of passer by morons may believe it…
Wondering whether President Trump could outmaneuver the deep state or be reduced to be a lame duck President for the the rest of his administration. Unfortunately he is losing. The gas attack is only one strategy to get President Trump to change course of pulling out of Syria.
Stop propaganda! White Helmets have been rehearshing for this, it was published before, intelligence from many countries picked up the plan before, warned off it — and now, shocker. Just as Trump announced getting out of Syria, bam! Here we go again. The Chemical Boris cannot stop talking of the fake chemical weapons case on "his soil" — the case of bad fish eaten by the victims just hours before. And then, with clear symptoms of food poisoning, the victims were put in INDUCED COMA, but eventually, they had to bring them out of it, before a danger to their health occured. British White Helmets staged many such propaganda pieces in Aleppo, all debunked later after the population was liberated, and they were able to TALK what they saw. Not that the Western fully controlled press will listen.
Only hours before, while civilians were evacuating, terrorists fired on the column, and many were dead. Also, the faction that was negotiating with the Army and Russians was executed — what happened to their bodies, and the bodies of their families. While Helmets supported all the nasty head-chopping Islamic cults, by cleaning up the execution sites, and disposing of bodies. They did not deny it, as the pictures were obvious — they just said, matter of factly, that it was a health hazzard to leave the bodies there, so they had to do it. And why is it that they were allowed to stay inbedded with the head-choppers. Because they did their propaganda work.
President Trump shocked the neocon establishment to the core, by stating that US will get out of Syria. Now, he has been put against the wall. He cannot go against the total neocon control of media, politicians, financial sector — name it. The opinion of people SIMPLY DOES NOT COUNT.
This media, by not using even elementary logic — and jumping on the bandwagon of propaganda, is clearly demonstrating who is owning it.
There is no reason either Syria or Russia would need to resort to chemical weapons, as they are winning the war. And this is the reason for this false-flag. Even if they are not winning the war, why resort to someting that has ZERO military value? Killing civilians, not militants on the front lines? Really? It is not that the morans that are coming up with this garbage do not know that it stinks. They know, but do not care. They do not expect the sheeple of the population to be able to do a thing. So what if the lies and fake attrocities are poorly reasoned, poorly produced, and making no sense. They are going to shove it down our throats anyway.
It is really sad that the monsters of the warfare state will not let go of Syria. People are so close to the peace, and utter defeat of terrorists — but the monsters would not let go off their flesh.
The problem is, this is a massive provocations against Russia. And should a shooting war start, we the sheeple would be the first ones to pay. Not the monsters with homes on safe islands, private jets, and everything that they need or money can buy. Perhaps, it is time that other nations speak up, and caution the West gone bonkers — time to pipe it down.
We know EXACTLY the origin of dead people, including children. The agreed upon evacuation of Douma was under way, when a group of militants attacked the convoy of busses. Now, everybody knows that busses were filled predominantly by women and children — plenty of bodies for White Helmets to stage the photo op. It is a clever trick to strip the children, those that do not show any visible trauma, as to impress upon the viewer that it was a chemical attack. But it also does not explain why are they stripped, as the agent that presumably killed them has not affected their skin, but was inhaled. They do not care if nothing makes sense, just that it looks like a movie.
Ever since Asia Times changed ownership — it went down hill, a propaganda vehicle for neocons. Continuing to publish a cautious Bhadrakumar, and occassionally over the top Pepe Escobar, the illusion is maintained of "openness". But the growing viciousness of neocon "logic" and the thirst for blood, cannot be hidden from the view. The autor of an article advocating killing off all the Shia in Lebanon, nuking Iran, and then poisoning their waters, sits on the Board of Directors.
It is all about Putin’s terrotorial ambitions. Not that Israel actually already was getting ready to invade Lebanon for the n-th time. And what stopped it, was the President of Lebanon unmistakeable call on Russia to forge an alliance to stop it. What stopped Israel in its tracks, was the unprecedented unity of Lebanese people. They could normally always count on some Christians or Harriri Sunnis. None of that was in the offing. Thus, France, the former colonial master, organized a "donor" conference, as if the allure of the money is enough to get the Lebanese fight among themselves again. Money, no Europe, UK or US have. And in the name of this "leadership", France is trying to get Harriri to pull some magic for them. You see, Hariri may be Saudi citizen, but he has inherited from his father many properties in France. In fact, they are so fancy, that when the former President Chirac retired, Hariri offered him his fancy digs in Paris to relax in. Now, France may be pulling some strings, threatening some properties, finding some "irregularities’ in his business affairs. Easily done. To make him try to scuttle the deal with Moscow. But he cannot do a thing. Nobody is really following him, with the exception of some wealthy Sunnis who still dream of the good old colonial days. Things have changed massively after what happened to Syria. Lebanon knows that in the chaos, Israel would like to swallow Lebanon.There is just enough chaos today in the Middle East, that one more problem would seem as an easy one for Israel. But the cards are actually stacked against Israel, even though by their behaviour you would not guess it.
American adventure in Syria is a precarious one. What would more American bombing accomplish? Nothing, but a good chance to get entangled with Russia, and US will try to avoid it. Chances of being able to prevail are not good. And in the region, all countries are either asking US to leave, or are hoping ardently that US will see some sense, and leave. Who is US going to rely on in the Middle East? Nobody. Even Saudi Arabia is hedging their bets and balancing with Russia. If Israel is willing to offer some skin in fighting for the Middle East, that would be different. But it is not going to. It is one thing to beat up helpless Palestinians, but another to confront Russia. So, all in all, much has changed. The best US should do is to make Israel come to terms with its own borders, settle Palestinian issue — it will be on better terms today, then in the future. And then have a region that will police itself, with Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Russia, with Saudi Arabia’s silent consent. With Egypt clearly leaning towards Russia, where exactly will US find anyone to fight its battles? Trump has common sense, but is now pressed against the wall. Can he wiggle out for all our sakes?
US/Israel has been lying and carrying out false flags to justify bombing and destroying countries/peoples since the 2nd World War. Are the peoples of the world stupid enough to continue believing them including the liar S Bryan ?? Yes, after having been sold off, Atimes has gone down hill.
Stephen, you really can’t be that stupid….my guess is that you are well paid Journo terrorist on Nantanyahu’s payroll….I bet you get good shekel seach month!!..
Another so-called chemical attack? Hey CIA, Pentagon, it’s getting old. Can the old canard and go back home, yankees. Disgusting warmongers.
This article is ignorant and filled with lies. There are people on this world who know exactly what is going on. I use to like this publication but now it’s a damn propaganda rag, this is my last visit here.
Hahahhaha how stupid ….. why america is to decide the fate of syria . These chemical attacks are done by america not by assad. Putin alteady said before this attack that american position is getting weaker in syria now they will use chemical bomb on civilians and will blame assad govt as they did so priviously.
Shame on stephen bryn for being so stupid. Stephen is like the people who are the one who were justifying americas attack on iraq ,everyone know that america was having there own interest….. now again they are planning that …… stephen stop propagating this evil agenda of trump and his evil fellas
The readers of Asia Times condemn the lies told in this article by Stephen False Flag Bryen. Who is he kidding? Stephen Bryen should not be prejudiced by his Jewish bias; he should explore the truth a bit more.
you said it all, infact, you’ve said too much
What a shallow superficial article by Mr Stephen Bryan. To me it is simply a summary rehash of what has been written and published in the mainstream western media. I can find no objective summary of what happened, who may be potential players in the horror, who may or may not be responsible for the crime, and a reasoned conclusion as to who was the likely perpetrator.
Note that in paragraph 11 Mr Bryen states that there is undeniable proof that the event actually happened. Nobody denys this. But who is responsible that is the question ? My Bryen dosnt address this –
but simply asserts it was the Syrian Government did it, and he then demands the USA and West blow these villans to bits.
So much for analysis and evaluation.
Even a quick reading of news about Syria such as in the excellent
source "newsnow.co.uk", or USA consertive media like "Washington Times" etc will indicate a range of possible perpetrators all with a vested interest in stopping Trump withdrawing US troops from Syria.
This is trash journalism bordering on propeganda and I am suprised to find it in a Magazine such as AsiaNews
THIS FALSE FLAG GAS ATTACH WAS PLANNED 6 WEEKS AGO,BUT THE WORD GOT OUT THAT IT WAS TO HAPPEN AND THEY KILLED IT FOR THE TIME BEING.NOW THAT THE FAKE POISONING OF SKRIPAL HAS SURFACE AS A FRAUD,THE NEOCONS UNDER TRUMP POMPEO BOLTON ARE DRAGGING OUT THEIR FALSE FLAG ATTACK. USING IT AS AN EXCUSE TO ATTACK SYRIA ,BUT IN REALLITY THEY ARE AFTER IRAN AND RUSSIA .THIS MAY NOT END WELL IF IRAN OR RUSSIA DECIDE TO RETALIATE ON THE US. BASES IN THE M.E AND SYRIA. MEANWHILE ISRAEL THE INSTIGATOR OF ALL THESE WARS SITS SMUG WITHOUT FRING A SHOT. MAYBE NOT!!
Another false flag blamed on Assad, who would be a fool to invite being bombed by the US. Russia has been warning that this was being prepared, but of course, Western media has blocked that. Also, White Helmets is a MI6 operation in conjunction with the Islamicists. That is why they can operate alongside them.
There’s no confirmation a chemical attack occured. 40 children (oddly, no adults) were found dead in a basement, possibly by CO suffocation.
Even if it wasn’t CO suffocation, it is very unlikely the Syrian government was capable of using a chemical weapon capable of only targeting a basement, without affecting any people on the outside.
Besides, the very fact there were 40 children locked in a basement is a strong signal they were captives by the terrorist group responsible for the pocket.
Since Trump has made the United States energy independent, the Middle East is no longer of critical importance to us. It may be galling to cut our losses and retreat from an active presence there but we have been ineffective in managing that arena and we have to leave it to actors in the area who understand it better and are in a better position to manage it. We cannot be the world’s policemen no matter how atricious the behavior of a country.
Somthing about this just doesn’t smell right. Before any retaliation can take place, the Administration needs to know exactly who is responsible and why this took place only after the President declared that he would like to have U.S. troops removed from Syria. (Even though he gave no timeline) So now the attack occurs? Why? What is really behind this? As I stated here before: something just doesn’t smell right.
yes take drastic actions quickly before any facts, or lack of, derail the momentum… don’t make the same Skrapil mistake.
Roberto,
Check this Stephen Bryen’s articles. It’s not the first time he published his rubbish on ATIMES.
The "deep state" doesn’t care about any children…they are trying hard to produce another "Gulf of Tonkin" or another "9/11" or another "weapons of mass delussion". And with the arrival to the White House of "Mr. Muscles bomb, bomb Iran and Siria" Bolton, chances are that the false flag will pass through and then….then will be too late for Human Kind and this planet…
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/Bryen_Stephen/
Sad what the asia times has become. Ownership change?
Why should, "Trump needs to action against this gas attack barbarism" ? Why shouldn’t surrogates, boot lickers, ass lickers, fifth colomnists of these baby faced Commies like Xi, insist that Chinkies take action?
Moron, why don’t you lick Bums of Your hero Xi to take action against perpetrators of this crime?
cfdsgfdghdf
The faster the US leaves, the better off the US will be. Let Europe deal with this. We do not need middle east oil. We have all we need.
This article is a joke
The author is a shameless peddler of lies and fake news . I am sure he cannot base his "opinion" on the truth of evidence . Show us the evidence
Pure propaganda…this stenographer doesn’t even bother us with a smidgen of ‘evidence’ that the Assad regime used the chemical weapons