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Title: U.S. intercepted communications of Syrian military planning chemical attack
Source:
HotAir
URL Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2017/04/ ... tary-planning-chemical-attack/
Published: Apr 13, 2017
Author: John Sexton
Post Date: 2017-04-13 12:58:59 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 2892
Comments: 22
The U.S. Intelligence Community intercepted communications in which the Syrian military is heard planning the chemical weapons attack that took place last week. From CNN: The intercepts were part of an immediate review of all intelligence in the hours after the attack to confirm responsibility for the use of chemical weapons in an attack in northwestern Syria, which killed at least 70 people. So far, no intercepts indicate that Russia had any direct involvement or advance knowledge of the attack, but CNN’s source suggests this may be because the Russians are more wary of having their communications intercepted. At a briefing, the source told CNN, “We know the Russians have chemical expertise in-country.” However, the source would only say the U.S. was still “assessing” Russian involvement. Monday an unnamed government source told the Associated Press Russia knew about the attack in advance. That judgment was based on the presence of a Russian drone over a hospital where victims of the attack were treated. There was subsequently an airstrike on that hospital in what the U.S. believes was an attempt to cover up the use of chemical weapons. The AP’s source suggested the drone and the later bombing were too much of a coincidence and must indicate Russian complicity in the attack. President Trump sounded less certain when he was asked if Russia knew about the attack. “I would like to think that they didn’t know, but certainly they could have,” the President said Wednesday. He added, “We’ll find out.” — The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) April 12, 2017 Here’s CNN’s report on the intercepts: Poster Comment: It sounds like there is some pretty damning audio against Assad's regime. The US military and intelligence community has intercepted communications featuring Syrian military and chemical experts talking about preparations for the sarin attack in Idlib last week, a senior US official tells CNN. Donald Trump: Certainly possible Russia could have known in advance of Syria chemical attack https://t.co/uv0JXyr3o9 https://t.co/OHVhds37kh
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 16.
#11. To: Tooconservative (#0)
Why it took several days to intercept it?
They often release such intercepts days later. That is how they did it before. If they are correct, by now the Russians have told the Syrians to tighten up their communications or rely on messengers carrying coded dispatches.
Yeah, sure. You make a very controversial, agitating step and you take your time in leisurely pace to explain it. It took several days to get native speakers from the area and make it look authentic. That is why they did it before.
It seems to me that all parties (except the Turks with their suspiciously quick "autopsies") took a lot of time to explain or even to reject various explanations. There is some value for intel agencies in waiting, hoping your opponents make a key admission of something they shouldn't. So there is some incentive to being close-mouthed. Beyond that, the Pentagon has a general policy of withholding information to control domestic media. Much like the police, they don't want anyone to get the idea they are actually responsible for, well, anything. They have an institutional incentive to do this, a bureaucratic impulse that makes it the smart move. Unfortunately, they don't have much incentive to just be honest with the public.
There are no replies to Comment # 16. End Trace Mode for Comment # 16.
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#13. To: A Pole (#11)
Why it took several days to intercept it?
#15. To: Tooconservative (#13)
They often release such intercepts days later. That is how they did it before.
#16. To: A Pole (#15)
Yeah, sure. You make a very controversial, agitating step and you take your time in leisurely pace to explain it.
Replies to Comment # 16.
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