OPCW preparing to visit syria.

originally posted by: tommyjo

There was also a claimed use of Chlorine by Syrian Forces in Douma earlier this year. Iranian 107mm rockets were identified. Chlorine has also been used by rebel forces.

Bellingcat Link

This is something the pro-Western media pointedly ignores. The Rebel groups and ISIS do have chemical weapons. The incident that happened last year was, most likely, the result of a Syrian or Russian airstrike hitting a stockpile of Rebel chemical weapons. The question of why the Rebels had such a thing was conspicuously avoided.

originally posted by: AndyFromMichigan

originally posted by: tommyjo

There was also a claimed use of Chlorine by Syrian Forces in Douma earlier this year. Iranian 107mm rockets were identified. Chlorine has also been used by rebel forces.

Bellingcat Link

This is something the pro-Western media pointedly ignores. The Rebel groups and ISIS do have chemical weapons. The incident that happened last year was, most likely, the result of a Syrian or Russian airstrike hitting a stockpile of Rebel chemical weapons. The question of why the Rebels had such a thing was conspicuously avoided.

Of course rebel factions have used chemical weapons.Was it caused by an airstrike hitting a rebel stockpile of chemical weapons or was that just an excuse? You have to realise that Russia under Putin will never admit to Syria using chemical weapons under any circumstance. They will simply deny and throw all manner of theories out there in order to protect Assad at all costs. It is a mindset. And so the narrative continues in Russian eyes that Assad has never used chemical weapons.

originally posted by: JoeHammon
a reply to: tommyjo

Chlorine isn't a registered chemical weapon. It can be used as an ineffective chemical weapons, but so can carbon dioxide. Anything heavier than air can displace air and choke people if used in very large quantities in closed spaces.

That mindset is likely the same one that the Syrian forces have when they used Chlorine as a weapon. One they believe is acceptable. It isn't! If the OPCW was to find that Chlorine was used do you think that they will just say "Oh, it' just Chlorine, Nothing to see - Carry on!".

Tell that to the OPCW and UN.

Security Council Resolution 2235 (2015) The Security Council adopted resolution 2235 (2015) on 7 August 2015, condemning any use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR). It expressed its determination to identify those responsible for such acts, and reiterated that they must be held accountable.

Mandate

The resolution established the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism (Mechanism) with the mandate “to identify to the greatest extent feasible individuals, entities, groups, or governments who were perpetrators, organisers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab Republic where the OPCW Fact Finding Mission (FFM) determines or has determined that a specific incident in the SAR involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as weapons.”

Link

Even Russia voted for this resolution and accepted that chlorine use was unacceptable. The question is why Russia will never admit to Syria using Chlorine as a weapon?

They have arrived.

twitter.com...

OPCW has full access to anywhere in Douma.

www.reddit.com...

originally posted by: BigsJoe
OPCW has full access to anywhere in Douma.

www.reddit.com...

Realistically what will they find after both the Syrians and Russian have had complete control of that area of the alleged chemical attack?

The OPCW Inspectors will be well aware of the open source imagery of at least one of the canisters and of its geo-location in Douma. Does anyone seriously expect that canister to be still there? What about the hole in the roof? Will the apartment block still be standing or that part of it demolished?

What about access to the graves of those buried after the alleged attack? Will those bodies have been removed from their original burial site? If it was just Chlorine that was used then after this length of time the chances of anything remaining will be slim. Those canisters will have been removed and those apartments/room/basements will have been hosed down.

a reply to: tommyjo

If they even touch a dust in that house the OPCW would know about it. That's how high tech their equipment is. It's beyond James Bond stuff.