How Intelligence Was Twisted to Support an Attack on Syria

[Catherina]

Excerpt does not convey the importance of this article. Please read the whole thing.

How Intelligence Was Twisted to Support an Attack on Syria

Tuesday, 03 September 2013 09:05 By Gareth Porter, Truthout | News

Secretary of State John Kerry assured the public that the Obama administration's summary of the intelligence on which it is basing the case for military action to punish the Assad regime for an alleged use of chemical weapons was put together with an acute awareness of the fiasco of the 2002 Iraq WMD intelligence estimate.

Nevertheless, the unclassified summary of the intelligence assessment made public August 30, 2013, utilizes misleading language evocative of the infamous Iraq estimate's deceptive phrasing. The summary cites signals, geospatial and human source intelligence that purportedly show that the Syrian government prepared, carried out and "confirmed" a chemical weapons attack on August 21. And it claims visual evidence "consistent with" a nerve gas attack.

But a careful examination of those claims reveals a series of convolutedly worded characterizations of the intelligence that don't really mean what they appear to say at first glance.

The document displays multiple indications that the integrity of the assessment process was seriously compromised by using language that distorted the intelligence in ways that would justify an attack on Syria.

...

The clumsy attempt to pass off intelligence claimed dubiously by the Israelis as a U.S. intercept raises a major question about the integrity of the entire document. The Israelis have an interest in promoting a U.S. attack on Syria, and the authenticity of the alleged intercept cannot be assumed. (Former British Ambassador Craig) Murray believes that it is fraudulent.

...

http://truth-out.org/news/item/18559-how-intelligence-was-twisted-to-support-an-attack-on-syria

[David__77]

1. Key: Official called "demanding answers for [about?] a nerve agent strike."

This was per a "leak" by an administration official: a Syrian defense ministry official calling someone in the field demanding answers. We obviously need to know if the real "smoking gun" is the one that indicates that there command and control was in place to prevent chemical weapons use, not facilitate it.

[JRLeft]

2. Not surprising, not surprising at all.

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. Good Read!

This all seems so familiar.

K & R

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. Could there be any doubt that this whole thing is another fraud?

The minute an idiot like Kerry started in with this "convincing evidence" shit it was all over.

[JRLeft]

5. The government fabricates evidence regularly when they have corporate interests somewhere.

[ProSense]

6. Wait,

Secretary of State John Kerry assured the public that the Obama administration's summary of the intelligence on which it is basing the case for military action to punish the Assad regime for an alleged use of chemical weapons was put together with an acute awareness of the fiasco of the 2002 Iraq WMD intelligence estimate.

...is this article disputing that there was a chemical attack? There were no WMD in Iraq. There most definitely was a chemical attack in Syria.

Gas Attack: Germany Offers Clue in Search for Truth in Syria
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023587129

France releases new, 'undeniable' evidence against Syria

<...>

It accused the Syrian government of using "extremely lethal" chemical weapons -- including those containing the deadly nerve agent sarin -- on several occasions to sow "terror" among civilian populations.

"These proven attacks have shown that the forces of Bashar Assad's regime adapt their tactics and the munitions in their stocks with the aim of causing terror within the civilian population," the French report said.

"The past events and the simultaneous and massive use of chemical weapons on the night of 21 August 2013 in the eastern suburb of Damascus thus confirm that the Syrian regime has deliberately crossed a line. Our services have information, from a national source, leading us to believe that other actions of this nature could still be carried out."

The attack on was a "massive and coordinated use of chemical agents against the civilian population," it alleged, adding that evidence appeared to confirm an estimated 1,500 deaths.

- more -

http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-france-evidence-syria-20130902,0,1163653.story

Is France and Germany also providing "distorted" intelligence?

The U.N. collected samples and testing is underway, which will provide independent confirmation of the the specific chemical used.

[JRLeft]

8. I know France has a big stake in Syria and it isn't human life.

Last edited Tue Sep 3, 2013, 04:23 PM - Edit history (1)

[xchrom]

9. +1

neo-liberals have in common with ne-cons those nasty conflicting interests.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. "is"? Please spell out what you know with references, because I'm curious.

I've not heard this before.

If it is a "monetary stake" that you are beating around the bush about, then that would usually argue coming down on the side of Assad as the stable dictatorship in the country.

Please clarify your assertions. References and links would help the assessment of your statement and thesis.

[polly7]

7. K&R. nt.

[pokerfan]

10. Same ol' game

I don't know why I bother voting any more. It's clear that the names of the people who actually run this country never show up on a ballot.

[Cerridwen]

11. Since it can be twisted, can it also be twisted in the other direction?

Or is the bias and prejudice only one way?

If it can be twisted to justify intervention, can it then be twisted to justify inaction?

Would anyone recognize the difference or would most be subject to their own prejudices?

Things that might keep me up at night.

Or not.

[Maedhros]

16. How much money will be made by defense contractors if we intervene?

How much money will be made by defense contractors if we stay out of it?

Why twist evidence to justify inaction if it doesn't make gobs of money for the MIC?

[KoKo]

12. Thanks for this, Catherina!

I saw him in an interview over the weekend. It's good to see this article posted.

[Catherina]

17. Koko, do you remember where? I'd like to look for the video or transcript. Thanks n/t

[KoKo]

22. I did many searches...

and I saw it on RT...but it's not up on their YouTube Site and this link goes to Pepe Escobar's interview rather than to the link it's supposed to. I tried to find the RT interview from other sites that mentioned what he said...and I hit a dead end for the video.

Anyway...maybe RT is late getting it up on You Tube...but what I found in search was that he was too inflammatory about Israel and one site gave me a "404 Not Found" in my search.

Anyway...it was RT... Hopefully it will turn up somewhere. But, you got most of what he had to say.

Here's from RT: But it goes to Escobar and nor the Porter Interview:

28.08.2013 16:11 ‘War on chemical weapons’: Obama traps himself into Syrian combat

... war brigade is Secretary of State John Kerry. Here, Gareth Porter thoroughly debunks Kerry’s game – and lies. No wonder Kerry ...

[Catherina]

25. Thank you. That was helpful, I'll look tomorrow. n/t

[KoKo]

26. I'll still keep looking myself. I'm surprised it isn't anywhere...

maybe some Super Sleuth who reads this thread will find it...but, I did my best.

[CanSocDem]

13. Let there be light...

From the link:



The former official told Truthout that the choice of wording actually means the intelligence analysts "do not know" if nerve gas was used.


Ahh, the subtlety's.....


.

[Bette Noir]

14. Colin Powell could probably tell Kerry a lot about

how it feels to be used to drum up support for an ill-advised war. Those two need to talk.

[Eddie Haskell]

18. This should be required reading

I read every charge as Syrian concern not complicity.

[JEB]

19. Sinking of the Maine, Pearl Harbor, Gulf of Tonkin, 9/11, Iraqi WMD....

How many of these are to some extent false flags? Why do we do this shit?

[Maedhros]

20. One particularly troubling bit:

The clumsy attempt to pass off intelligence claimed dubiously by the Israelis as a U.S. intercept raises a major question about the integrity of the entire document. The Israelis have an interest in promoting a U.S. attack on Syria, and the authenticity of the alleged intercept cannot be assumed. Murray believes that it is fraudulent.

And this apparent deception on Kerry's part:

Since then, administration officials have dismissed the UN investigation as representing a Syrian political tactic. Kerry claimed in his statement Friday that when the UN inspections were "finally given access, that access - as we now know – was restricted and controlled."

But Farhan Haq, the associate spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who has been getting regular reports from the UN team on its work in Syria, told Truthout that he was unaware of any restrictions on the team's work.

It's also highly suspect that the Administration is poised to reject UN analysis and is instead relying on the Syrian opposition for confirmation of the analysis of hair and blood samples:

The Obama administration has made it clear it does not intend to rely on the UN investigation's findings. Kerry declared on Sunday that samples of blood and hair from medical personnel in eastern Ghouta had been found to contain traces of sarin nerve gas.

However, those samples did not go through the UN investigators, but were smuggled out of Syria by opposition activists. The spokesman for the Free Syrian Army's Supreme National Council, Khaled Saleh, had announced August 22 that "activists" had collected their own hair, blood and soil samples and were smuggling them out of the country.

[KoKo]

23. It's a Mess...leading people who are interested...not to know Who to Trust...

except the Experts on CNN and Govt. Spokespersons (most Un-named) and the words from Others in International Community who are allied with War Profiteers, Special Interests from Oil Interests and Collusion with Governments we PAY OFF with OUR Tax Dollars and other interests behind the scenes from the MIC/Spy Community and the Think Tanks and "former Politicians" and others who are now part of Wall Street Community when they aren't "cross going with the Think Tanks" who get their funding from the "Revolving Door."

It could make one crazy sorting it out...but, we have a backlog of good Reporting that goes Way Back that thanks to the internet we can recapture to follow the Bread Crumbs to some semblance of TRUTH...if we seek...and before they "404" it all.

[Supersedeas]

27. sounds like the decision has been made

[MisterP]

30. 6 days ago the warhardon sufferers insisted that they'd "confirm what everyone knows"

"I'll have plenty of paper towels to pass out so people can get the egg off their faces."
of course, their criterion for truth was that BOTH the WH/DoS and Khaleejis agreed on this...
guess the syndrome makes the blood rush from their head

[polynomial]

21. Let’s play war games

Come on DU er’s lets have some fun. First off the president to announce a basic increase in combat pay, 320 dollars a day for regular army, marines, air force, navy, No Subcontractors. Call for enlistments of one million to commence training immediately. Re-enlistment get first choice with twenty five grand up front bonus. Get big bucks into the first line military now.

Only first rate the best advanced infantry hand to hand combat enlistments, or very selected born again pardonable felons, clean out our jails, possibly have to wire them. “LOL”, first rate training program initiated to develop high tech advanced hardware software professionals with excellent physical endurance, no jelly rolls here, lean and smart. Also, training in special weapons land, air, and navy. All prisoners, suspected traitors, defectors, or criminal actions, are given to the international community. No Gitmo. AWOL go to prison.

Surprise

Next, advise congress and the senate to create a command panel with the joint chiefs, they command the effort all screw ups are their responsibility not the presidents. No more parading around to visit war zones, that shit is over, No More media bullshit visits.

Iraq is positive proof the media lies. All congressional personal that volunteer to visit the war zone are committed to stay and fight in the war zone take point and lead the charge. No more bullshit visits for one or two days to see whats going on. If you go to Syria to visit you are part of the war effort till it’s over. With an O.K. to go to war by Congress all screw up are their responsibilities not the presidents, including war crimes, NO TORTURE. End of message.

That was fun

Last but best; This is a good one

All efforts in the war materials are audited and published to the public all tax money has to be accounted for by all those companies that participated in the war theater. American tax payers wants to know what profiteering was made before anyone makes a new DVD for cable television. Brace for a new tax system. And especially a public metadata war report daily for all America not just the one percenters.

[KoKo]

24. +1..interesting...

[Little Star]

28. k&r

[Mnemosyne]

29. Fallujah. nt

[woo me with science]

31. kick

[marmar]

32. k/r