READER COMMENTS: "Al Nusrah vows revenge on Alawites"

Posted by Fred at August 26, 2013 9:12 AM ET:

Am I alone in suspecting that Al Qaeda might be behind the attack in al-Ghouta? The timing, when UN inspectors had just arrived in Syria, is very suspicious. And AQ stands to gain a lot from this attack. If they can drag the US into the war in Syria they'd be able to extend the long war even longer and widen the field of conflict. Lastly, someone shot at the UN inspectors en route to al-Ghouta, which might be an attempt to keep the story alive.

I don't see why Assad would go this long without using chemical weapons on a large scale and then change his strategy now, right when the inspectors arrived. I don't know why he would shoot at the inspectors. He only stands to lose. That doesn't mean he didn't do it, I guess, people do stupid things. But I do think the echo chamber seems to have decided that Assad is responsible before any evidence has been uncovered to implicate him.

Posted by B.Schnieder at August 26, 2013 12:56 PM ET:

I agree with you. It doesn't make any kind of sense to use chemicals when you are hosting UN personnel to investigate such matters. I don't believe everything on the Syrian SANA news site either; however, just so the good ol U.S.A keeps the major news networks to tell only what the Senate and the White House wants us to hear, they block SANA. Remember Vietnam? The Gulf of Tonkan was a Lie, we shot the president of South Vietnam via the C.I.A., you could be dishonorably discharged from the army if you were caught with Mao's lil red book. It was just early last month they had the news they caught terrorists in Iraq with the chemicals to make Sarin Gas, (not sure if they had a full can of it). They made a big deal out of the resources of the CIA and other foreign agencies to track it down and find it in Iraq. Now just to save face on Obama with his don't cross the red line, he wants to drop bombs on who? Really! Just who does he want us to believe is at fault. Obviously with prejudgment, he wants us to believe its the Assad Regime. Don't be surprised after he blows hell out of Assad that Assad doesn't have the right to come back on our shores with whatever means he can to get even. Paving the way for Boot's on the Ground and then get embroiled with the real terrorists only they will be closer than ever and not in some mountainous country far far away.

Posted by Carl at August 27, 2013 10:22 AM ET:

The reason he might change his strategy now is because he is losing now. In a civil war if the government is not actively winning it is losing, slowly or quickly but it is losing. Apparently the rebels have made significant gains in Damascus which would account for the Sarin / Riot gas mixture being used in Damascus. See link below at ISW

http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/opposition-advances-damascus

Posted by gb at August 27, 2013 11:02 AM ET:

Oh no! Not revenge...Al Nusrah has it's excuse to use their own chemical weapons if they haven't already done so.

Posted by Mike D. at August 27, 2013 11:21 AM ET:

I've seen various reports that indicate that the attack (initiated by Government forces) orders were monitored by Israeli SIGINT, is this disinformation, don't know. Also, there has been talk that the lethality of the attach was not anticipated, a mistake if you will. One blogger analyzed the rocket impacts and determined that they were fired from the northern area, where there a number of government military installations. The government has been frustrated that it can't dislodge the rebels from the Ghouta district in East Damascus, and this could have been a calculated risk to try and flush them out.

Posted by vyom at August 29, 2013 7:54 AM ET:

Suppose Assad used chemical weapons in Ghouta district and in other places for a second and this justifies western involvement in Syria morally and humanly but is it fruitful for west and particularly US to get involved? I don't think so.

Posted by irebukeu at August 31, 2013 12:42 AM ET:

I can see Obama's speech now to justify war. If he gives one at all

"The Israeli government has learned...."

Posted by Nic at September 2, 2013 11:09 AM ET:

Marine snipers claim that the black balaclava make a head shot much easier.