Syria False Flag Coming

False flag operation underway?

Trump so weakened that he is out of the picture on this?

Sic Semper Tyrannis
The White Helmets are saddling up for another ride
Col. W. Patrick Lang, US Army (ret.)

At the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lang was the Defense Intelligence Officer (DIO) for the Middle East, South Asia and counter-terrorism, and later, the first Director of the Defense Humint Service. At the DIA, he was a member of the Defense Senior Executive Service. He participated in the drafting of National Intelligence Estimates. From 1992 to 1994, all the U.S. military attachés worldwide reported to him. During that period, he also briefed President George H. W. Bush at the White House, as he had during Operation Desert Storm.

He was also the head of intelligence analysis for the Middle East for seven or eight years at that institution. He was the head of all the Middle East and South Asia analysis in DIA for counter-terrorism for seven years. For his service in the DIA, Lang received the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive. — Wikipedia

See also

Iraq WMD again? How many times can this work?

Zero Hedge
Russia Warns Staged "Chemical Provocation" Coming In Syria After Bolton Cites New Intel

Tyler Durden

also

Fort Russ
BREAKING: RUSSIA ACCUSES U.S OF PLANNING FALSE FLAG ‘CHEMICAL’ ATTACK IN SYRIA

Joaquin Flores

Also

The nuclear "red line" warning came in Gutenev's following statement, per state-run TASS:

“It’s no secret that serious pressure is being put on Russia, and it will only get worse. It is intended to deal a blow to defense cooperation, including defense exports. We see that the Americans now speak about the possibility of sanctions against the countries that purchase Russian weaponry… We should follow the advice of certain experts, who say that Russia should possibly suspend the implementation of treaties on non-proliferation of missile technologies, and also follow the US example and start deploying our tactical nuclear weapons in foreign countries. It is possible that Syria, where we have a well-protected airbase, may become one of those countries.”

He also mentioned focusing on cryptocurrencies to circumvent “US attempts to thwart deals on Russian weaponry and civilian goods,” saying Moscow should “consider the possibility of conducting transactions in cryptocurrencies that are linked to the value of gold.”

“And I’m sure that this will be a very interesting option for China, India, and other states as well,” he said. According to Gutenev, the whole package of these measures taken together could create serious momentum in Russia's favor when dealing with the United States and its allies....

Upping the ante.

Zero Hedge
Russian Official Shocks By Urging Tactical Nuke Deployment In Syria After Bolton Warning

Tyler Durden

See also

Forces lining up.

The Unz Review
Idlib Dawn

Anatoly Karlin

Rick Sterling — The Trumped-Up Syria-Sarin Case

As Israel threatens an expanded war against Syria and Lebanon, an emotional justification is the alleged April 4 sarin attack that was blamed on the Syrian government despite huge holes in the evidence, as Rick Sterling reports.

Consortium News
The Trumped-Up Syria-Sarin Case

Rick Sterling, investigative journalist

See also

SouthFront
Moscow: UN-OPCW Report Regarding Khan Shaykhun Chemical Attack Is “an Attempt To Mislead the International Community”
lkb22

Sic Semper Tyrannis — JCS J-2/DIA told Rumsfeld and Myers there was no WMD in September, 2002

The basic story here is that Rumsfeld asked the J-2 in September 2002 what we (the US) did not know about Iraqi WMD programs. DIA labored and produced the enclosed report that said clearly that although they (J-2/DIA) had many assumptions about Iraqi WMD, the authors knew precious little about the actual programs.

This was not a desired response and Rummy sent the paper to General Richard Myers, USAF (then chairman of the JCS) covered by a rather panicky sounding note.

So, pilgrims, the BS about the "go to war decision" having been based on bad intelligence is just that, BS.

I don't think Bush 43 lied to the American people. I think he was bull-dozed by the neocons like most Americans.…

Seems like there ought to be a criminal conspiracy charge available for what Rumsfeld and Myers did and also did not do about this.…

Sic Semper Tyrannis
JCS J-2/DIA told Rumsfeld and Myers there was no WMD in September, 2002

Vesti — Ryabkov: Washington Is Preparing A "Global Strike"

Washington continues to prepare a global strike, according to Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov to RIA Novosti . He noted that a continuation of negotiations on further nuclear reductions are impossible for this reason. 

Fort Russ
Ryabkov: Washington Is Preparing A "Global Strike"
Vesti (original in Russian)

Translated by Ollie Richardson for Fort Russ

Interfax — Russian Foreign Ministry: ISIS actively using chemical warfare agents

Moscow possesses information that the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in the Middle East have been using chemical warfare agents increasingly more frequently in Syria and Iraq, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Based on numerous indications, the organization ISIS banned in Russia and some other radical Islamic groups in the Middle East have indeed gained access to components and technologies enabling them to produce chemical warfare agents at least at an amateurish level, and they have started using them in Syria and Iraq increasingly more often," Zakharova said at a news briefing in Moscow on Nov. 12.

"Some time ago, they were said to be using household and industrial chlorine as a chemical warfare agent, but now there is reliable and confirmed information indicating that they are employing real chemical warfare agents, such as sulfur mustard. The matter concerns its use while fighting against government forces, for terror and for committing terrorist attacks aimed against the local population and for provocative purposes, including with the purpose of discrediting the Syrian government in the international community's eyes," she said.…

Russia Beyond the Headlines
Russian Foreign Ministry: ISIS actively using chemical warfare agents

Interfax

Gareth Porter — When the Ayatollah Said No to Nukes

Iran's WMD-is-against-Islam policy began with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and has been reiterated under Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Truthout
When the Ayatollah Said No to Nukes
Gareth Porter, Foreign Policy | Report

BTW, WMD were found in Iraq but they were the chemical and biological weapons that the West had provided to Saddam during his war with Iran when it looked as if Iran would win the war against the greatly outnumbered Iraqis. But that news was suppressed for political reasons. Saddam did use them against the Iranians and also against the Iraqi Kurds.

Eric Schlosser — Almost Everything In “Dr. Strangelove” Was True

Department of "It can't happen here."

The New Yorker
Almost Everything In “Dr. Strangelove” Was True

Eric Schlosser

(h/t Yves Smith at Naked Captialism)

Al Jazeera — France says tests from Syria shows sarin use

Foreign minister says examination of samples make it certain nerve agent has been used in Syria on several occasions.

Al Jazeera
France says tests from Syria shows sarin use

Looks like both sides are using sarin nerve gas, vastly upping the ante. While the choice of weapons is tactical, this choice affects geopolicy and geo-strategy, as well as international order. So this is a potentially a big deal.