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The US military have reportedly proved that sarin gas production is going on among
some Sunni salafists in Iraq, and via Turkey, can reach Syrian rebels, former Pentagon
official Michael Maloof told RT, citing classified sources.
some Sunni salafists in Iraq, and via Turkey, can reach Syrian rebels, former Pentagon
official Michael Maloof told RT, citing classified sources.
RT: France, the US and UK are saying the UN report clearly
points to the Assad government's involvement in the August attack .
But how can they be so sure, especially as the document states that
improvised rockets may have been used, possibly pointing
to rebel involvement?
points to the Assad government's involvement in the August attack .
But how can they be so sure, especially as the document states that
improvised rockets may have been used, possibly pointing
to rebel involvement?
Michael Maloof: I have a report from a source who has direct connections
withclassified information and he basically told me that [the] US military
did an assessment based upon 50 indicators and clandestine interviews
that the sourcing of sarin originated out of Iraq and into Turkey before
some of it was confiscated in May in Turkey. He believes that since
that report was disseminated in August in 2013, that there has actually
been a more significant amount of sarin production both in Iraq and in
Turkey going to the opposition, principally Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra.
That was their specific target, to see to what extent Al-Qaeda was actually
involved in production, in research and dissemination. He says what was
confiscated was bench level or small specimens at the time,
but that the production now they believe is
much more robust and that the non-proliferation, genie, as he says,
is no longer exclusive. So there's quite an increasing concern that this is still on
going, that production is occurring among some Sunni salafists in Iraq
and continues to be transported into Turkey.
withclassified information and he basically told me that [the] US military
did an assessment based upon 50 indicators and clandestine interviews
that the sourcing of sarin originated out of Iraq and into Turkey before
some of it was confiscated in May in Turkey. He believes that since
that report was disseminated in August in 2013, that there has actually
been a more significant amount of sarin production both in Iraq and in
Turkey going to the opposition, principally Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra.
That was their specific target, to see to what extent Al-Qaeda was actually
involved in production, in research and dissemination. He says what was
confiscated was bench level or small specimens at the time,
but that the production now they believe is
much more robust and that the non-proliferation, genie, as he says,
is no longer exclusive. So there's quite an increasing concern that this is still on
going, that production is occurring among some Sunni salafists in Iraq
and continues to be transported into Turkey.
RT: Can you tell us more about that classified document you’ve seen,
which shows that the US knew that Al-Qaeda linked rebels in Syria had sarin gas?
which shows that the US knew that Al-Qaeda linked rebels in Syria had sarin gas?
MM: The document itself was published in August 2013 by the National
Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC). It’s part of the intelligence community.
The fact that some of it was actually captured in May along the border
in Turkey and it was actually Al-Qaeda, and since it was disseminated
my sources are telling me that production has probably increased
significantly and sarin gas is being produced quite widely now.
That it's actually ongoing and there's actually a Saudi financier whose
name I’m trying to obtain right now.
Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC). It’s part of the intelligence community.
The fact that some of it was actually captured in May along the border
in Turkey and it was actually Al-Qaeda, and since it was disseminated
my sources are telling me that production has probably increased
significantly and sarin gas is being produced quite widely now.
That it's actually ongoing and there's actually a Saudi financier whose
name I’m trying to obtain right now.
This raises a whole host of questions, and even though Mr Kerry says
we know what the origin of the August 21 shot was into the outskirts
of Damascus that killed hundreds of people including children,
he tells me that they have been scouring Syria for more than a year
looking at all the Syrian military activities and that they have no
information on any artillery having been fired that day at that time
into that location. So this raises all kinds of further questions as
to what this information is which Kerry possesses, but refuses to
share with the world.
we know what the origin of the August 21 shot was into the outskirts
of Damascus that killed hundreds of people including children,
he tells me that they have been scouring Syria for more than a year
looking at all the Syrian military activities and that they have no
information on any artillery having been fired that day at that time
into that location. So this raises all kinds of further questions as
to what this information is which Kerry possesses, but refuses to
share with the world.
RT: Why is the US not taking any action against the Syrian
rebels then? After all, they believe that Al-Qaeda,
their sworn enemy has chemical weapons.
rebels then? After all, they believe that Al-Qaeda,
their sworn enemy has chemical weapons.
MM: Clearly the administration does not want to get more deeply involved
in a Middle East conflict. It’s probably a political and policy call
on the Obama administration’s part. Again, this is speculation on my part,
but I think it would go absolutely against
the grain of trying to assist the rebels and I think the administration’s goal
really is regime change. You have an opposition and foreign fighters that
have now integrated into the opposition being involved in this.
This absolutely goes contrary to what their policy direction is and
results in tremendous confusion.
We’ve had separate reports already that Al-Qaeda elements are rather significant
in a Middle East conflict. It’s probably a political and policy call
on the Obama administration’s part. Again, this is speculation on my part,
but I think it would go absolutely against
the grain of trying to assist the rebels and I think the administration’s goal
really is regime change. You have an opposition and foreign fighters that
have now integrated into the opposition being involved in this.
This absolutely goes contrary to what their policy direction is and
results in tremendous confusion.
in numbers and have permeated into the opposition. So the ability to distinguish
who gets what and where becomes much more problematic for this administration.
I think that the administration is trying to oust Assad, but the fact that you have those
foreign fighters there, for them to admit it would absolutely undermine their entire
policy approach.
who gets what and where becomes much more problematic for this administration.
I think that the administration is trying to oust Assad, but the fact that you have those
foreign fighters there, for them to admit it would absolutely undermine their entire
policy approach.
‘US cannot afford another war with questionable results’
RT: The US says they want to see the Geneva peace talks take place - yet they've
just offered more support to the opposition. How is that going to bring the peace
process closer?
just offered more support to the opposition. How is that going to bring the peace
process closer?
MM: You've got to distinguish the opposition. The opposition has refused
to meet as long as the Assad government is going to be represented
at Geneva 2. But I think with Russian President Putin’s direction and
leadership in all this, I think the United States is compelled to have that
meeting and to try and resolve this. It certainly isn’t going to please
the opposition but the United States has basically boxed itself into
a corner on this policy approach, because the next question is what
happens in response to any bombing or regime change.
to meet as long as the Assad government is going to be represented
at Geneva 2. But I think with Russian President Putin’s direction and
leadership in all this, I think the United States is compelled to have that
meeting and to try and resolve this. It certainly isn’t going to please
the opposition but the United States has basically boxed itself into
a corner on this policy approach, because the next question is what
happens in response to any bombing or regime change.
Regime change would clearly be done through military action and by force,
so what the repercussions of that will be is something the administration
doesn’t want to confront, and I think it’s something the opposition feels very
disappointed about and it could be very demoralizing for them as a
consequence. The United States cannot afford to get involved in another
military conflict with questionable results, and certainly in terms of time,
where it’s all going to lead to.
so what the repercussions of that will be is something the administration
doesn’t want to confront, and I think it’s something the opposition feels very
disappointed about and it could be very demoralizing for them as a
consequence. The United States cannot afford to get involved in another
military conflict with questionable results, and certainly in terms of time,
where it’s all going to lead to.
So I think it would be in the interests of the United States and Russia to get
Geneva 2 underway and get something resolved. I think the leadership of Mr.
Putin and certainly Foreign Minister Lavrov have come up with a solution
and I think that that’s something that has to be pursued. Whether you get the
opposition to come along is highly questionable, but I think at this stage
the big boys are calling the shots on this, not the opposition.
Geneva 2 underway and get something resolved. I think the leadership of Mr.
Putin and certainly Foreign Minister Lavrov have come up with a solution
and I think that that’s something that has to be pursued. Whether you get the
opposition to come along is highly questionable, but I think at this stage
the big boys are calling the shots on this, not the opposition.
You must keep in mind that the opposition itself is very fragmented.
You have over a thousand elements in there that don’t
talk to one another, it’s not a unified effort, and this actually
consolidates Assad’s position, particularly with the help
of Iran and Russia at this point.
You have over a thousand elements in there that don’t
talk to one another, it’s not a unified effort, and this actually
consolidates Assad’s position, particularly with the help
of Iran and Russia at this point.
The statements, views and opinions expressed
in this column are solely those of the author
and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
in this column are solely those of the author
and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
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