Obama seeks Syria support from former foe McCain

Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Monday the information the U.S. showed Moscow to prove the Syrian regime was behind the chemical attack was "absolutely unconvincing."

"Yes, we were shown certain pieces of evidence that did not contain anything concrete - neither geographical locations, nor names, nor evidence that samples had been taken by professionals. Nor did they comment on the fact that numerous experts have serious doubts regarding the video footage circulating on the Internet," Lavrov said at the Moscow Foreign Relations University (MGIMO) on Monday.

"There are plenty of contradictions and oddities, if we are speaking of footage of chemical weapons use and the condition of the victims," he said. "What we were shown before and recently by our American partners, as well as by the British and French, does not convince us at all," he said.

"There are no facts, there is simply talk about what we definitely know. But when you ask for more detailed evidence, they say that it is all classified, therefore it cannot be shown to us. This means there are no such facts to encourage international cooperation," the minister added.

Minister Lavrov has called the information provided to Russia by the US 'inconclusive'.

"We were shown some sketches, but there was nothing concrete, no geographical coordinates or details... and no proof the test was done by professionals...

During a meeting with Cabinet-level officials at the White House Friday morning, sources confirmed that President Barack Obama threw up right in the middle of discussions regarding a U.S. military intervention in war-torn Syria. "He got really quiet and pale when we began to discuss plans for a unilateral strike on al-Assad's forces, but then [White House Chief of Staff] Denis McDonough mentioned the Muslim Brotherhood, and the president just puked right on the table,"

[...snip...]

At press time, Obama was reportedly sitting in the fetal position in a corner of the Oval Office as advisers frantically assured him that France is prepared to take military action alongside the United States.

It must be classified, I suppose, eh? Since no one either wants to or can produce it.

CBS News Aug. 29
Syria chemical weapons attack blamed on Assad, but where's the evidence?

The international community will hope for clarity on these questions from the U.N. inspectors who have been on the ground in Ghouta this week.

There are other chemical agents which have allegedly been used in Syria since 2012, including far-less-potent organophosphates, which are readily available in the form of industrial insecticides.

It should also be noted that Russia claimed to have provided evidence in July to the U.N. which showed the rebels were behind a sarin gas attack in the village of Khan al-Assal in March 2012.

"It was established that on March 19, the rebels launched an unguided Bashar 3 projectile towards Khan al-Assal controlled by the government forces," Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters, adding that he intended to share the evidence with the U.S., U.K and France.

The ambassador said the results of the analysis of the gas-laden projectile indicated the Bashar 3 rocket "was not industrially manufactured and was filled with sarin." He said the samples indicated the sarin and the projectile were produced in "cottage industry" conditions.

"The punch line is that the more that Israel perceives the U.S. as hesitant, the more Israel will be pushed to deal alone with the Iranians, something that the U.S. really did not want," said Michael Herzog, an Israel-based fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "People ask, `If this is the case on a relatively simple thing like striking Syria, how will they act against Iran?' It deepens the question marks."

Ari Shavit, a columnist for the left-leaning daily newspaper Haaretz, said that Israel and others in the Middle East were being left with a "feeling of orphans," wondering "if there is still a reliable parent in Washington who is really committed, who understands what's going on and who is willing to act."

Dan Gillerman, a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, attacked Mr. Obama's speech announcing that he would put the Syria question before Congress as "a very serious diplomatic and political fiasco reminiscent of the Carter days," and said the enemies of Israel and the United States -- especially in Tehran -- were "gloating and celebrating."