| Hard News
3,600 patients with neurotoxic symptoms in Damascus hospitals on Wednesday - Doctors Without Borders:
Nearly
3,600 patients with neurotoxic symptoms were treated in three Damascus
hospitals on the day a toxic gas attack was reported, say Doctors
Without Borders (MSF). 355 patients were reportedly pronounced dead.
Manipulating Public Perceptions:
U.S. detected activity at Syria chemical weapons sites before attack:
Administration
officials said Friday that U.S. intelligence detected activity at
known Syrian chemical weapons sites before Wednesday's possible
chemical weapons attack that killed at least 1,000 people, CBS News
national security correspondent David Martin reports.
Iran says Syria will allow UN to inspect chemical sites:
Mohammad
Javad Zarif was quoted by IRNA news agency as saying he had spoken by
telephone with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem. Muallem told him
"the Syrian government will cooperate with the United Nations mission
now in Syria to create the conditions for a visit to zones where
terrorist groups have carried out attacks with chemical weapons."
Syrian rebels control alleged chemical attack site: Govt can't grant secure entry:
Syria
has no control over the site where the alleged chemical attack took
place, argues Oxford University historian Mark Almond to RT, adding
that the opposition controls the area and Damascus can't guarantee
security or even entry for UN experts.
Russia: Syrian rebels preventing probe into alleged chemical attack -
Russia's
Foreign Ministry said on Friday Syria's opposition was preventing an
objective investigation into allegations the Syrian government carried
out a chemical weapons attack.
Syria: Chuck Hagel suggests US is marshalling military forces:
US defence secretary says his department is providing Barack Obama with 'options for all contingencies'
Syria: US Moves Warship As "Strike Calls Grow":
The
USS Mahan destroyer remains in the Mediterranean as defence officials
are asked to devise options to resolve the Syria crisis.
US on Syrian intervention: We have a range of options available:
US
President will meet his national security team Saturday. Meanwhile,
top military commanders from US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Britain, Qatar,
France, Germany, more will meet in near future at Jordan's invitation
to discuss response to Syrian massacre
In case you missed it:
U.S. 'backed plan to launch chemical weapon attack on Syria and blame it on Assad's regime':
Leaked emails from defense contractor refers to chemical weapons saying 'the idea is approved by Washington'
In case you missed it:
The US used chemical weapons in Iraq - and then lied about it:
A
chemical weapon can be "any chemical which through its chemical action
on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or
permanent harm".
In case you missed it
"This Could Have Been An Israeli False Flag Operation!" Col Wilkerson :
Video -
Syrian rebels use toxic chemicals against govt troops near Damascus - state media:
Chuck
Hagel suggests US is marshalling military forces: US defence secretary
says his department is providing Barack Obama with 'options for all
contingencies'
Syrian army finds chemicals in militants tunnels:
Syrian
army soldiers have found chemical agents in tunnels dug by the
foreign-backed militants in a northeastern suburb of the capital,
Damascus, Syrian TV says.
Preliminary analysis of alleged CW munitions used in Syria:
This
is a preliminary analysis only, and should be treated as such. My hope
in posting this piece is that it will inform the conversation, and
help cut through some of the wild guesses and outrageous claims
regarding these munitions that I have seen over the past few days.
Nothing in this post should be considered definitive
Iran's Rouhani says chemical weapons killed people in Syria:
"The
Islamic Republic gives notice to the international community to use
all its might to prevent the use of these weapons anywhere in the
world, especially in Syria," he added, according to the Mehr news
agency.
Iran Foreign Ministry condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria:
The
Iranian official also warned against any foreign military intervention
in Syria, saying there is no international mandate for intervention in
the crisis-hit country.
Syria: Mideast will burn if we're attacked:
Amid
reports of American preparations for a military operation in Syria,
the war-torn country's information minister warned Saturday that that
attacking his country would have dangerous consequences. "A mass of
flames will ignite the Middle East," Omran al-Zoubi said in a
television interview, adding that such an attack will not be a
"picnic."
Russia rejects calls for use of force on Syrian gov''t:
Russia
said that any calls or Security Council encouragement for the use of
force against the Syrian government were "rejected" in light of claims
of its use of chemical weapons in attacks on civilians.
Iran warns U. S. against military action in Syria:"
Iran
has warned the U.S. against taking military action in Syria. Iran's
semi-official ISNA news agency quoted a spokesman for the foreign
ministry, Abbas Araqchi, as saying: "No international licence exists
for military intervention in Syria. We hope that White House officials
are wise enough to not enter such a dangerous battle.'
Hagel: Speedy Response May be Needed in Syria:
If
claims that Syria used chemical weapons several days ago are true, a
speedy response will be needed to prevent another such attack, U.S.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Friday.
Iran blasts US Hagel remarks for possible military meddling in Syria:
Iranian
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi lashed out at the US for
possible military intervention against Syria, and warned any
provocative move or remark could fuel tension across the region.
Israel estimates: High likelihood of US attack in Syria:
Following
a phone conversation Friday night between IDF Chief of Staff Benny
Gantz and US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, Israel is
estimating that the US will take action in Syria even without a UN
Security Council resolution.
Opposition: inaction on Syria makes international leaders responsible:
"I
demand Obama, [French President Francoise] Hollande and [UK Prime
Minister David] Cameron and leaders of Arabic countries to be
responsible [for] the massacre of the Syrian people," Ahmed al-Jarba,
head of the Syrian National Council, said.
28 killed in suicide bombing in Baghdad:
At
least 28 people were killed and 36 wounded in a suicide bomb attack in
northern Baghdad on Friday evening, an Interior Ministry source told
Xinhua.
20 Militants Killed in Afghan Operations:
Twenty
militants were killed, five wounded and nine others arrested during
operations in several Afghan provinces since Friday morning, said the
Afghan Interior Ministry earlier on Saturday.
2 Police Killed, 4 Wounded in Attacks in Afghanistan:
Two
policemen were killed and four others wounded in different security
incidents in Eastern Nangarhar and Northwestern Badghis provinces,
officials said on Saturday.
Polish occupation force soldier killed in action in Afghanistan, Poland's 42nd trooper killed there: -
Poland's
Defence Ministry says one of its soldiers has died of wounds sustained
in action while on a NATO mission in Afghanistan's Ghazni province.
9 killed in firing outside seminaries in Pakistan: -
At
least nine people were killed in two separate incidents of firing
outside two seminaries in Pakistan on Friday night, local media
reported.
Tripoli bombing suspects arrested, death toll rises to 47:
Sheikh
Ahmad Gharib, 40, was arrested by the police overnight in his
residence in Minyeh, north of Tripoli. Arms, explosives and maps of the
northern city were seized at his home, judicial sources said.
Libya Losing Control of Oil Fields:
A
group calling itself the Barqa Youth Movement has declared the eastern
area to be an autonomous federal province within the framework of the
Libyan state. The movement's statement said that Islamic Sharia "is the
source of legislation in the province," declared the appointment of a
temporary president for the province, and declared the establishment of
a defense force that would protect the province and maintain security.
Obama administration covers up missile theft:
The
Obama administration is covering up the theft of 400 surface to air
missiles by "some very ugly people," the lawyer for a Benghazi
whistleblower told WMAL Radio in Washington D.C. last week.
Lockdown by Government Smothers Day of Planned Protest in Egypt:
A
tight lockdown on Cairo by Egyptian security forces on Friday all but
squelched a planned day of protests by the Muslim Brotherhood and its
allies, suggesting that the new military government had gained a
decisive edge in its battle against supporters of the ousted president,
Mohamed Morsi.
Thousands of Bahrainis march peacefully for democratic reforms:
Thousands
of Bahrainis were allowed to march peacefully outside Manama calling
for democratic reforms on Friday, 10 days after police cracked down on
scattered protests organized by an online group inspired by recent
demonstrations in Egypt.
Critics decry US cluster bomb sales to Saudi Arabia:
US Department of Defence has authorised $641m worth of the controversial weapons to be sent to Saudi Arabia.
Report: Al Qaeda plan to 'change face of history' led to US scare:
Yemen's
President reveals details from intercepted phone call between al-Qaeda
leaders which led to closure of dozens of Western embassies. 'We would
carry out attack to change history,' one of them said
Guardian partners with New York Times over Snowden GCHQ files:
Some
of Edward Snowden cache shared with US paper after 'climate of intense
pressure' from UK government. Journalists in America are protected by
the first amendment which guarantees free speech and in practice
prevents the state seeking pre-publication injunctions or "prior
restraint".
Dollar falls as US housing data dents Fed taper view:
The
dollar fell against a basket of currencies on Friday, falling from a
three-week peak against the yen, as a steep drop in U.S. new-home sales
raised doubts that the Federal Reserve will actually reduce its
asset-buying program next month.
"Indescribably insane": A public school system from hell:
Pennsylvania's right-wing governor drains public schools of basic funds -- and the sickening details will shock you
===
"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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