Two weeks after the alleged chemical attack in Douma, chemical inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) are still in Damascus on “standby,” waiting for permission to enter Douma.
Allegations continue to swirl around this delay. Britain blamed Russia, as usual. French officials on Friday also claimed Russia was “obstructing access” to the site. The OPCW, however, has made clear for days what is causing the delay.
OPCW inspectors aren’t to be allowed into Douma until the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) security team clears them to visit. So far, UNDSS has refused to do so, saying they still have concerns after Wednesday’s visit.
On a Wednesday visit, the UNDSS visited two Douma sites, but fled both times. They complained the first site was too crowded, and they were concerned about safety. There was a shooting incident at the second site, though the only casualty was a Syrian hired as extra security.
Either way, claims about security appear to be overstated. The Syrian government managed to facilitate a visit by CBS reporters days ago without incident. Many media groups seem to have no problem getting into Douma safely.
There have been numerous media attempts to turn conjecture into fact. One of the most egregious examples of war propaganda is a CNN reporter in Douma, handling and even sniffing supposed evidence.
There is no public proof that the April 7 strike took place, and a mounting amount of doubt that it didn’t, driven by inquiries from Robert Fisk. Residents within Douma have also expressed doubts about the strike.
OAN investigators weren’t able to confirm any evidence of a chemical weapons attack on Douma, either. To the extent that investigations are happening, they suggest there was no chemical strike. AFP journalists who’ve had access to Douma have gotten quotes from locals who deny a chemical attack ever happened.
Clearly, Douma was attacked by Syrian forces on that day, and the day prior. Those strikes, however, were insisted by the Syrian government to be purely conventional strikes. There is little to suggest anything else, beyond claims from the White Helmets, and Western nations claiming to have secret proof.
Syria and Russia have both denied from the start that the attack took place, and they have believed the OPCW visit would reveal the truth. Russia in particular was pushing for an investigation to take place before any rash action against Syria. Ultimately, US-led attacks on Syria happened Friday, April 13.
The US, Britain, and France all seem to anticipate the OPCW probe not going their way. The US accused Syria and Russia of plotting to tamper with Douma. There’s no evidence of tampering of any kind. Despite this, Western officials complain the UNDSS delays are making tampering easier. Others, including the French Foreign Ministry, are claiming that the evidence could just “disappear” if the OPCW doesn’t get to Douma soon.
Despite claims to support the OPCW now, it was Western officials who led the UN Security Council to reject a Russian proposal for an investigation in the first place. The US-led coalition attacked multiple sites in Syria before the investigation could happen.
Speculation is growing that the UNDSS delays are an effort to block the OPCW long enough that a conclusion that the chemical attack never took place could be contested on the grounds that they waited too long.
Russia and Syria have both been pushing for the investigation from the start, and guaranteed security for them. They’ve further deployed Russian military police to the site to deter Western strikes from targeting Douma itself and destroying evidence.The UNDSS expressed concern at the lack of Syrian government control on the ground, though this can’t be helped, as it’s part of the terms of the ceasefire in Douma that Syrian troops stay out.
“…Speculation is growing that the UNDSS delays are an effort to block the
OPCW long enough that a conclusion that the chemical attack never took
place could be contested on the grounds that they waited too long.”
I thought it was about bilking overtime but whatever.
Brockland A.T., Your first assumption is probably also right – I can imagine the OPCW inspectors are OK with hanging around the hotel – ordering room service, sleeping in and always “on the clock”. We are never going to find out what really happened because the liars will never allow the truth to out – their butts are too valuable to mess around with the truth.
Well, the OPCW have visited and taken samples now, of the ground and any supposed casualties, for their own labs to analyze.
Hopefully no funny business awaits; it would only hurt the OPCW as the alleged chemical attack seems thoroughly debunked by people on the ground.
What a drama, the culprits cannot allow inspection as it will be further evidence of a False Flag event.
fumy, only killing by chemicals are prohibited and killing by bombs, missiles and what ever available is OK, Russia stated that they tried over two hundred new weapons and successfully, as i write Aljazeera news showing intense bombing by Syrian regime and Russian fighter jets, like those bombs can point out who’s the rebels and who’s the civilians, remember Chechnya and president Putin worlds number one killer.
A bit exaggerated, I think. Check out Chechnya now, with agreement with Russia and newly built cities plus peace. The film PUTIN (horrors, it is Russian !) has a lot about Chechnya and shows its leader with Putin recently.
what do you know about Chechnya to judge that the Chechen living in peace, i don’t want to get into details or it might hurt me or a relative that’s how peaceful Chechnya is, by the way i’m Chechen and i know more about my country than an observer and i also more about Syria because i’m living right next door to Syria and i have relatives there and know exactly what they went through since the Assad family took over the government.
“So far, UNDSS has refused to do so, saying they still have concerns after Wednesday’s visit.”
Maybe one of their “concerns” is what the political fallout will be of the US and Britain having their noses rubbed in it over this obvious false flag. Something tells me that the UN is not long for this world, especially if we descend into a catastrophic world war with the Iranians and the Russians. Isn’t that what happened with the League of Nations after WWII?
I was under the impression that the OPCW was an independent organization – meaning not under the control of the UN. Perhaps I’m wrong but if not, then why and under what determination does the UNDSS feel they have the authority to stop independents from doing what they’re chartered to do? Syria is not under the control of the UN…yet.
So the F/UK/US attacks which destroyed research facilities among other damage were carried out in a great rush to ensure that the OCPW team did not find that the “gas attack” was a White Helmets false flag, then the brave three democratic heroes complain that the gassed area is being denied to them so that the “evidence” can be somehow destroyed.