From the "no one should be surprised about this" file:
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'Dozens died in Syrian-Iranian chemical weapons experiment'
"Proof of cooperation between Iran and Syria in the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction was brought to light Monday in a Jane's Defence Weekly report that dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria.
According to the report, cited by Channel 10, the joint Syrian-Iranian team was attempting to mount a chemical warhead on a Scud missile when the explosion occurred, spreading lethal chemical agents, including sarin nerve gas.
Reports of the accident were circulated at the time; however, no details were released by the Syrian government, and there were no hints of an Iranian connection.
The report comes on the heels of criticism leveled by the Syrians at the United States, accusing it of spreading "false" claims of Syrian nuclear activity and cooperation with North Korea to excuse an alleged Israeli air incursion over the country this month.
According to globalsecurity.org, Syria is not a signatory of either the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), - an international agreement banning the production, stockpiling or use of chemical weapons - or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Syria began developing chemical weapons in 1973, just before the Yom Kipper War. Globalsecurity.org cites the country as having one of the most advanced chemical weapons programs in the Middle East."
Source - Jeruselum Post On-Line edition http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411428847&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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I smirk at the recollection of Speaker of the House Nancy (where have you been) Pelosi going to Syria and treating them like such good buddies. I wonder what she has to say on this?
It is also interesting that not much has been heard about this. No real condemnation of Israel from the usual suspects in the West and Middle East. This makes me think that there is much more to this than meets the eye - which means it was far more dangerous than this story presents the situation.
We underestimate Iran (the real power broker when dealing with Syria since they control Hamas and Hezbollah) at our peril. For once, I am very thankful that the French have been out in front in an international situation. They have kept the light focused on the dangers from Iran.
We will have to deal with Iran at some point. I would much rather do this when we have my comrades-in-arms over there (I will be joining them next Summer) than after we leave.
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Comments: 25
Bottom line, we knock the snot out of Tehran and do it fast , quick and hard. No we don't hurt civilians, we decimate every military instillation on our "radar" and let them know that they are not going to be a "problem" anymore.
s
Anyways, Poliwonk I also think you are absolutely right in regards to some of Saddam's stash went!
Dale, I do agree with you that we will have to deal with Iran and soon.
Good article Dale, did you see the one I posted yesterday about the Koren connection to Iran and the Syrians...
French Leaders Talk of War with Iran...
with Comments by M. Emmett Townsend step by step row by row...
Tell you what, rather than look to blame the US of A for all the world's ills, why don't you suggest some real, logical and effective ideas as to how to fix the problem?
Leave it to Jane's tho to find this stuff out, be surprised if the MSM even mentions it...
This whole mess with Iran and Syria just serves, yet again, to prove what a moronic, colossal blunder Dubya's decision to invade Iraq really was.
Let's see, there's an "Axis of evil" with one member who is a state sponsor of terror, who desires to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and is actively pursuing development of "nuke-u-leer" weapons.
Never mind those clowns, let's make up some tripe about WMDs and links to al Qaeda so we can do what pappy had the wisdom and forethought not to do: invade Eye Rack! And once we invade, let's do so without enough troops, no plan for an extended occupation and a withering insurgency and civil war. And, oh by the way, we'll gift wrap the whole thing for the Mullahs in Iran because they now have their Shia brethern running the show in Iraq.
That's genius, plain and simple. And I truly mean plain and simple.
Not sure if you are the same dave that said the same thing on a different post...but if you can repeat yourself so can I..
Dave,
We gave lots of countries weapons and information...they were called allies. Little history lesson...did you know that Russia got the technology to build a jet from the British during WWII? The brithish sent Russians who were struggling with engine design a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet and they quickly reverse engineered it and put that into the Mig 15. This in turn shot down quite a number of US planes in Korea until we could get the "Sabre" online and our superior pilots kicked their A_ _
Russians were our allies we (they) shared know how. Considering they became our number one enemy a few years later it would be safe to say that this was not the brightest move. BUT THAT IS MY POINT... you can't keep looking back. The Flux capacitor is broken...we cant travel back in time...you go with the decision AND the consequences at the time.
We gave Iraq weapons and know how during the cold war era where they were fighting Iran (by extension USSR as they were supporting them).
Most important Dale, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! May God protect you and bring you home safely!
The Axis of Evil is still relevent. We've taken care of getting rid of Saddam. I wish we would be more aggressive in going after Iran and the little twit over there. Syria is basically a client state of Iran so I'm including Assad with Iran. That leaves us with North Korea and the deranged little dictator over there.
We still live in a dangerous world. I just wish those who oppose our current policy would actually have some valid, logical, workable ideas for dealing with the bad guys out there rather than just dumping on the US.
I realize that's probably a pipe dream, but...
That's disengeous BS, particularly in light of the premise of your original post and your "smirk" for Pelosi dealing with the Syrians in general.
Of course, I expected no less from an apologist for this administration: "Bush good, Dems bad."
The foolhearty arrogance, lust and greed for power they displayed during the six years they controlled both Houses of Congress and the White House has destroyed the Republican party. And they will pay for the sins of Bush/Cheney for years to come.
Republicans who stand before the American people in '08 saying "Bush was right, stay the course in Iraq for years and years to come" will be led like lambs to their political slaughter.
The pipe dream is believing that you can repeat the same line of BS over and over and have it change reality. That dog just don't hunt any more.
You recommend a continued open-ended occupation of Iraq with a major military presence there until Sunnis and Shia agree to put aside their centuries-old conflict and live in harmony? Interesting approach.
Hmm, what do you do with Iran and Saudi Arabia who are the major players fomenting discord in Iraq to protect their interests in the region?
Shia and Sunnis live at peace in other parts of the world but its radicals with their no one can protect you better then we can message that are causing the problems. Right now people are worried about not being able to cross the street without getting blown up so its every man for themselvs. Once security is more widespread the average Iraqi can think about a more normal life, find a job, raise a family etc. Once security is better international companies will be more willing to invest into the infastructure which will provide again for more jobs. Bottom line, the faster Iraqis can take care of themselves the faster we can get out of there. But again, you can read the results of the benchmarks for yourself, they are not yet capable of doing that.
In the real world, let's be happy that Israel took out a potential threat, without making too many waves, internationally. Some even see this as a green light for further Israeli/US action against Iranian interests in the ME from the Arab nations. I wouldn't go that far, but there was a surprising lack of condemnation by the surrounding Sunni Arab states.
I do not like our military acting as the world's policeman, but I also hate to think that we have to have local cops in my hometown. Bad people exist and good people need to step up and stop them. In hindsight, Bush could have done alot of things better. Lets just hope that the good fight prevails!