Today, the Syrian government agreed to surrender control of their chemical weapons supply.
But throughout the Syrian civil war – and the latest chemical weapons attack – theories about who was responsible and where the weapons came from flourished and are still living, even after the government implicated themselves.
Could they still be true? Is this all a big cover up? We explore the most popular theories to see if they’ll hold up against this newest development from the Syrian government.
Believe us, not everyone believes what’s being reported in the media as true.
Take a look:
1. Bashar al-Assad Knew Nothing of the Chemical Attacks:
Despite claims from the U.S., France and Britain that the Syrian president used chemical weapons against his own people, a German newspaper reported that he actually knew nothing of the attack.
Via the Guardian:
President Bashar al-Assad did not personally order last month’s chemical weapons attack near Damascus that has triggered calls for US military intervention, and blocked numerous requests from his military commanders to use chemical weapons against regime opponents in recent months, a German newspaper has reported, citing unidentified, high-level national security sources.
The intelligence findings were based on phone calls intercepted by a German surveillance ship operated by the BND, the German intelligence service, and deployed off the Syrian coast, Bild am Sonntag said. The intercepted communications suggested Assad, who is accused of war crimes by the west, including foreign secretary William Hague, was not himself involved in last month’s attack or in other instances when government forces have allegedly used chemical weapons.
Could it be true? Ron Paul thinks so. The former Texas Republican congressman had this to say about Assad:
“I don’t think [Assad] is an idiot; I don’t think he would do this on purpose in order for the whole world to come down on him,” Paul told Fox Business Network’s Neil Cavuto on August 28, referring to reports of the Syrian government deploying chemical weapons. “Look how many lies were told to us about Saddam Hussein prior to that build-up. War propaganda: It’s endless; it happens all the time.”
Basically, all this talk of Assad’s chemical weapons are a “false flag.” But with the news of Syria handing over their chemical weapons and possibly signing a chemical weapons treaty, we know there’s truth behind Obama’s claim.
And Assad’s hand in all of this…well…I think this says it all.
2. Assad Got His Weapons From Saddam Hussein:
This idea comes from a theory that Iraq transferred their weapons to other nations when the Bush administration invaded the country in 2003. But as we all know now…there were a lot of lies about what was actually in Iraq at that time. (Remember, Bush couldn’t find anything).
To read up on this conspiracy, click here.
3. The Rebels Are To Blame:
Could this still be true, even after the government said they would hand over chemical weapons?
Well, chances are it’s not. Remember, the rebels and the Syrian government are in the middle of a civil war. But that doesn’t keep the conspirators from conspiring. According to Foreign Policy, the chemical attack could have been the result of an accident after Saudi Arabia provided Syrian rebels with nerve agent.
“Saudi intelligence chief Bandar bin Sultan funneled chemical weapons to fighters in Ghouta, just outside of Damascus. Those weapons were allegedly stored in underground tunnels, and after rebels who were unfamiliar with handling the weapons set off an explosion, the nerve gas dispersed, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people.”
Unlikely. Remember when we told you that Western intelligence agents intercepted phone calls from within the Assad regime about the chemical attacks? And then they bombed the area to cover it up. Doesn’t seem likely that the rebels would put their side through all of this to implicate the government.
But hey, it’s up to you to make a decision. What we know right now is that we were on the brink of war, and now we’re not.
I guess there’s something to celebrate here, no matter which side you believe.
Theories compiled by Foreign Policy, Mother Jones , Huffington Post, Guardian and Salon
