U.N. Team Finds No Proof of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria, Sec-Gen Claims Otherwise.

The report of a U.N. weapons inspection team finds that Assad forces have plenty to answer for but can't be shown responsible for chemical attacks.

"On the evidence currently available, it was not possible to reach a finding about the chemical agents used, their delivery systems or the perpetrators," the team probing human rights violations in Syria said in its latest report on Wednesday.

It was clear however that "the majority of casualties result from unlawful attacks using conventional weapons," the Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a statement.

 

 Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's regime "have continued to conduct widespread attacks on the civilian population, committing murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearance as crimes against humanity," according to the report, which covers the period from May 15 to July 15.

But wait, there's more.  BBC News is reporting that U.N. Sec-Gen Ban Moon now says that a report due next week will "overwhelmingly" confirm that chemical weapons were used in Syria last month.

Mr Ban said the UN findings would be "an overwhelming report that chemical weapons were used".

Mr Ban made no comment on blame but did say that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had "carried out many crimes against humanity".

"Therefore, I'm sure that there will be surely the process of accountability when everything is over," Mr Ban said.

Father Knew Best - Not Really.

It seems our European cousins are coming to grips with the utter madness of the past.   Along the Atlantic coast and in the Baltic sea thousands of tonnes of chemical weapons littering the seabed are close to corroding through.


"Nobody knows exactly how many discarded chemical weapons are hidden in the waters around Europe. For instance, in the Baltic, where after World War II the Allies dumped munitions originating from German arsenals, there are at least 40,000 tonnes, of which at least 13,000 tonnes contain poisonous substances. A sixth of this amount would be sufficient to kill all life in the Baltic for a hundred years.

"Not a reassuring idea, for anyone who knows that mustard gas, chloropicrin, phosgene, diphosgene and arsenic compounds are packed in cases and drums that will rust through sooner or later. No one knows when this will happen, but it is certain to.


"Ten years ago, the Russian scientist Aleksander Korotenko predicted that somewhere between 2020 and 2060 the corrosion will have progressed so far that the poison will start to leak out. Sixteen percent is sufficient to wipe out all life in the Baltic."

The best thing the Euros have going for them is that these discarded weapons will release their toxins gradually and over a very wide area.   That's about the best that can be hoped for.   The weapons are now far too dangerous to attempt to recover.  That would pose an unacceptable risk of a major poison discharge.