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Why we feel that Trump’s action vis a vis the missles was warranted.

Big Al
April 10, 2017

Opinions on Trump’s action utilizing missles in Syria run  the gamut from support to violent opposition. Here is why Big Al supports that decision.

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Discussion
145 Comments
    CFS
    Apr 10, 2017 10:34 AM
      Apr 10, 2017 10:17 PM

      Yeh, CFS this guy is pretty good.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:51 AM

    I WILL BE BACK WITH YOU ALL EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

    b
    Apr 10, 2017 10:53 AM

    International agreements?
    Handling procedures for gas?
    Protect the constitution?

    Its possible Mr McKinney did leave the service due to disagreeing with leadership.

    When Mr Trudeau said he supports the American actions, he had over 4000 comments on his facebook page, not 1 single one agreed with him.

    I voted for Trudeau, not because I figured he was good in any way, but because he said he was going to legalize pot.

    My thinking is they are all liers, the people will get screwed as usual etc, but at least we might get pot legalized.

    I dont think Im going to vote again, its kinda like picking your own executioner.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:19 PM

      Important to realize b,the Jim disagreed not necessarilly with his immediate superiors but with the actions of the U.S. government.

    CFS
    Apr 10, 2017 10:56 AM

    I watched the videos of doctors giving medical help to the victims of the attack. None were wearing protecive clothing. No doctors or medical staff were reported as having problems arising from helping the sick.
    Second: the symptoms of the victims were mainly described as “choking” or “beathing problems”.

    I understand the symptoms of Sarin to be runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea for low exposure; muscle problems with diaphragm leading to death by suffocation for high exposure.

    The videos I watched did not seem consistent to me for Sarin. (I am not an expert, obviously, but considered myself fairly knowledgeable and intelligent.)

    The symptoms just appeared to me to be more consistent with chlorine gas or similar.

      CFS
      Apr 10, 2017 10:08 AM

      I infer from the commentary, I am supposed to conclude that the US has assets in local proximity to the airfield that have direct knowledge of chemical weaponry loaded on Assad’s bombers.
      I realize this is possible. I just don’t know if the U.S. is that good.

      e.g. We were told that all the 49 cruise missiles (with the possible exception of one hit their designated targets. (From U.S. dources)
      We are also told that less than half struck the aiefield. (Non U.S. sources)

      I have watched the Russian drone footage. For $70 million worth of weaponry, I sure don’t see much damage.

        CFS
        Apr 10, 2017 10:12 AM

        I also see no evidence of ground-assisted guidance of the missiles.
        But maybe the US did not want to tip its hand that it had ground assets close by.
        Certainly we were given no close up footage of missile strikes as in the Iraq war.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:49 AM

        CFS,

        You infer right, the United States has the ability to observe specific targets of interest in many ways. All air activity is very closely monitored, as it is a direct threat to U.S. forces operating in theater.

        The targeting appeared very accurate and effective from the limited Russian videos – bunkers appeared to have been cleared of debris prior to the “Russian” drone footage, and of course the Russians are not going to show the Chem bunker sites as this would verify their knowledge of the activity. They have a effective propaganda machine, too.

        As for the locals and (possible?) doctors handling the wounded, the gas disperses fairly rapidly depending on weather and degrades in sunlight. The people were working with what they had available. Actually, I was surprised to see some in protective gear at all.

        Post attack actions are unrelated to the weapons handlers – handlers must be very careful or they can lose highly trained experts, crews, aircraft, resulting in mission failure.

        U.S. intelligence is pretty good, most of the time. This wouldn’t be that hard to spot. And for all they hype on no WMD in Iraq, read the 1996 Iraqi government declaration to the UN on their Chem and BIO weapons programs. They declared they had it, they just wouldn’t allow verification they destroyed it all. For more UN information see http://www.iraqwatch.org/un/UNSCOM/disarmament.htm Where did some of it go? Syrian Baathists, maybe?

        Without action, President Trump would have been ridiculed and perceived as weak and detached from a very real threat to U.S. forces and allies in the region. I believe he had no choice. I also believe he made an important statement to potential U.S. enemies – something we have not seen in 8 years – which is more likely to limit future problems than to bring us to WWIII.

        But if Armageddon comes, its way with or without this small but bold action.

          GH
          Apr 10, 2017 10:20 PM

          Before the 2003 Iraq war started, UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter made a forceful and convincing case that Iraq no longer had any significant WMD capacity. And he did it in plain English.

          No WMD were found.

          That’s pretty convincing.

          Of course those responsible were going to say the WMD got spirited away and hidden somewhere else. That’s CYA and plausible deniability 101.

          The UNSCOM link you posted above would take hours of mind-numbing reading of bureaucrat-ese, and it’s unclear what knowledge might be gained by the effort. There’s not even an executive summary highlighting key points and conclusions.

          Lawyer tactic: bury opponent in paper.

            BDC
            Apr 10, 2017 10:38 PM

            Scott Ritter was clear about it, but, as W’s Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill learned and was fired or quit in 2002, the coming Iraq War was already a done deal.

            GH
            Apr 10, 2017 10:15 PM

            Yep, and as the famous British Downing Street memo said, “the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy.”

            http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/memos.html

          CFS
          Apr 10, 2017 10:25 PM

          I believe Sarin is highly soluble (maybe miscible in water. There was no rainfall in Syria during or immediately after the attack.
          It also degrades in sunlight and there is typically strong sunlight.

          I’m still slightly puzzled by the “choking” description.

      CFS
      Apr 10, 2017 10:05 PM

      It was reported that approximately 0% of Assad’s fixed wing aircraft were destroyed by the US attack; yet we see no wreckage in the Russian drone footage. They either avoiding photographing that or there was not any wreckage.

        CFS
        Apr 10, 2017 10:07 PM

        oops! 20% not 0%

      Apr 10, 2017 10:20 PM

      CFS, does the medium really make a difference?

        CFS
        Apr 10, 2017 10:32 PM

        Sarin is a liquid whichslowly vaporizes after delivery, unless absorbed by skin or clothing. It is not dissolved in anything for delivery. Water neutralizes it’s effectiveness. In gas form, it is heavier than air, so simply gaining height is a way of getting away from it.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:27 AM

    Jim is selling, but I anit buying.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:23 PM

      Same. The sheeple will never learn.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:24 PM

      You certainly don’t have to buy proud, just consider. And, you obviously have.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:29 AM

    Aint

    b
    Apr 10, 2017 10:44 AM

    Apr 10 Trump is Bibi’s Shabbos Goy Bob Moriarty 321gold

    Sad but true, thx for writting Mr Bob.

      BDC
      Apr 10, 2017 10:04 AM

      Colonel W. Patrick Lang: “Where Are The Resignations?”
      http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/
      More at the other thread.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:26 PM

        I did read this earlier BDC.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:17 PM

      Great article …….. Bibi’s Shabbos………good one BOB M.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:18 PM

        figures that Trump and Jared are the pawn……Jared being the “A” Jew…

          Apr 10, 2017 10:20 PM

          Trump has to listen to his converted “A” jew daughter, since, she has taken up residence in the White House……..The American suckers we are………

          Apr 10, 2017 10:27 PM

          Yep, even though Bob will deny this, let’s all get on the anti Jew bandwagon.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:28 PM

            I have to say please keep these racist comments coming. I have a Korean daughter, want to bash her too?

            Apr 10, 2017 10:59 PM

            Al:

            Do you have any disagreement with any of the facts and links in my piece? Did you even bother reading it.

            I left the US because it has become a very dangerous place to live. You may get your knickers in a twist because I left but that’s your problem. Am I under some obligation to remain in what has become a police state?

            The attack last week on Syria cost a minimum of $60 million and appears to have destroyed $1 million in used and beat up airplanes that should have been in the bone yard years ago. Your born and unborn grandchildren are going to be paying the cost of what appears to be spitting into the wind.

            You don’t have any problem at all with racist comments as long as they are aimed at Muslims.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:01 PM

            Yes I have read it all.

            You a bit personal with McKinney and you are wrong about some of you comments regarding him.

            I do not believe that our country is anywere near a police state at this point. I don’t have any problem at all with you leaving the U.S. Nothing wrong with the Camans and the water and the sun. Certainlly nothing wrong with Switzerland.

            I have a major problem with racist comments made towards Muslims and, for that matter, any person.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:03 PM

            By the way, as I am sure you remember I have aired all interviews that I have ever done with you.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:01 PM

            Owl, I do not think you are aware of the different types …….this has nothing to do with being racist……..

            Apr 10, 2017 10:57 PM

            I happen to have a lot of Jewish friends and I have had all of my life. Trust me I recognize the differences.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:23 PM

            More in the lines of money and banking………

            Apr 10, 2017 10:30 PM

            I will try to state my comments more clearly in the future…….

            Apr 10, 2017 10:52 PM

            Your comments are fine, Indy!

            By the way, how is the budding opera star doing?

            Apr 11, 2017 11:05 PM

            Owl…..real good and thanks for asking and remembering…….J

      Apr 10, 2017 10:25 PM

      I could have made the predicgiton that Bob would say this. It is his sctick and has been for a long time.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:55 AM

    Not selling anything, just trying to inform and educate with my personal experience. It is a dangerous place out there, and as much as I would like to hide out in my bunker, I want my children to live in a better world. Somebody has to stand up and fight sometimes, or we all lose what we have. I have lived and fought in these shit holes, I don’t want them back here – but they are creeping closer.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:18 AM

      McKinney:

      I understand your retirement income is from the CMIC but your current day job, are you still working for the CMIC or are you in a totally different civilian non-CMIC connected job?

      GH
      Apr 10, 2017 10:28 AM

      Not letting them back here is easy. Doesn’t require us to be over there. In fact, we’ve created the refugee crisis that the globalists are now using to send them to Europe and the US.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:25 PM

        Exactly.

      CFS
      Apr 10, 2017 10:29 PM

      I appreciate and agree with your sentiment Mr. McKinney.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:08 AM

    This forum should be of interest to you Al:

    http://www.defconwarningsystem.com/phpBB3/index.php

      Apr 10, 2017 10:31 PM

      Thanks Bob UK. Right now I am up to my ears dealing with this forum.

      thank you, though!

    Apr 10, 2017 10:09 AM

    I cannot see how this can end well. Just look at how many factions there are in the region.
    https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/04/jack-perry/cant-fight-war-without-scorecard

      Apr 10, 2017 10:32 PM

      It can end well Doug. But, there is certainly no guarantee of that!

    Apr 10, 2017 10:19 AM

    Yo Al! Mr. Kool Aid! We were brought into the Vietnam War with falsified signal intelligence data. We were sold a line going into Gulf War 1 about Iraqi soldiers stealing Kuwaiti baby incubators out from under infants. We were sold a line on WMDs in Iraq going into Gulf War 2. We were told several years ago that Syria used chem weapons on its own people when it turned out to be rebels using the weapons. And you are SO confident that we got Assad this time? LOL! We have thrown 50 MILLION Amerikan babies in garbage cans over here without batting an eye and you are concerned with a few Syrian babies? Really? I hope you sit in the back row in church on Sundays.

      GH
      Apr 10, 2017 10:26 AM

      Bingo

      Apr 10, 2017 10:26 PM

      Yup, Jason nailed it.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:35 PM

        Bring back the Bird..at least he made sense at times…

          Apr 10, 2017 10:08 PM

          Well that says plenty about you, Gator.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:35 PM

      Russell might want to read your comments……which I think are spot on…….jmho

        Apr 10, 2017 10:27 PM

        sorry I miss read the comment……Owl, is not kool aid, but, I did think some of the comment was historical…..

      Apr 10, 2017 10:33 PM

      Jason..so who are you addressing…it is not clear from your post…

      Apr 10, 2017 10:36 PM

      You Jason, are a complete fool!

      And, no I do not sit in the back row. Know why? Because, I am spending a lot of time not just bitching, but providing a forum where all comments are published for all to see.

      I have not left the country and then just sit and bitch. I am doing my best to make a difference.

      Your comment about me sitting in the back row is asinine. I do more with my resources and time to actually help others to the best of my ability. I only wish that more people would try to make a difference as I do.

        GH
        Apr 10, 2017 10:25 PM

        To be clear, Al, when I said ‘bingo’, it was in agreement with his pointing out all the false flags, nothing more.

        I value very much what you do.

          Apr 10, 2017 10:29 PM

          ditto, sorry for the misunderstanding……..

          Apr 10, 2017 10:53 PM

          And, GH I certainly value all of your input.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:24 AM

    Really nedded to smash the runway itself. Taking out radio and radar at airbase was good . But avoiding Russ planes he could have still taken out more of the runway to decrease use of base. Lack of long term Planning, and lack of Deputy staffing still a problem at DOD and State Department . News today that Trump wants Bannon and Jared K to work together , puts us right back to the disorganized compangn period . Trump still has no predictable Policys, hes all emotion and churn no personal stability. Pence will end up being president . Hes a fanatic against abortion and birth control. more turbulance ahead S

      CFS
      Apr 10, 2017 10:33 PM

      R.S. Hamilton. We did not take out any radar at the airfield.
      The Russians specifically NEVER turned on defense systems.
      Cruise missiles travel at relatively slow speeds, but there was no attempt reported to take any out.

      CFS
      Apr 10, 2017 10:39 PM

      In order to take out runways, it is not clear that cruise missiles are the appropriate method.
      Bombs from aircraft would be more effective, but then there is a much higher risk of precipitating major conflict, especially with Russia.

    GH
    Apr 10, 2017 10:25 AM

    Mr. McKinney,

    Have you got anything to say about US training bin Laden and Al Qaeda, and supporting ISIS, or not?

    Your argument seems to boil down to ‘this time trust is warranted’.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:06 PM

      good one………

      Apr 10, 2017 10:08 PM

      GH….Mc Kinney is ex military, therefore he is much more brainwashed than the comman man……………Sorry Mr Mc Kinney, but i can not believe anything you say, as you are part of the system. There is no evidence to show that neighter Assad or Russia launched a chemical attact…….Its a false flag. You are not doing any service to your fellow Americans, by going along with the Government LIE.

        GH
        Apr 10, 2017 10:30 PM

        It certainly makes it hard to take someone seriously when they dodge all tough questions.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:37 PM

        Have to agree with Tony……….

        Apr 10, 2017 10:38 PM

        Tony..after many years I have to say this time you are wrong as are many others on this particular issue…

          Apr 10, 2017 10:42 PM

          Gator,…….can we still be friends…….. 🙂 I promise to clean the boat after fishing…

            Apr 10, 2017 10:43 PM

            or at least have Tony do it……… 🙂

        GH
        Apr 10, 2017 10:57 PM

        Given all the combat theaters that McKinney has participated in, I can imagine how difficult it would be to face the fact that one has been duped into participating in the worst crimes of the 21st century.

        But it’s never too late to get one’s head straight, repent, and start working for the good rather than the evil.

          BDC
          Apr 10, 2017 10:34 PM

          A question I try to always ask of myself: “What if I’m wrong?”

          Apr 10, 2017 10:34 PM

          GH:

          I think the opposite is true. The more you have been around combat, you sooner you realize the total brainwashing you have undergone and everything you have been told is a lie.

          I would challenge anyone to look at what the US military has done in total since 2001 and come to a conclusion that it has been positive. We destroyed Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now say we are fighting both sides in Syria. Has the US gone totally insane?

          The people I know who spent a lot of time in combat all agree war is a poor solution. As time passes there are more and more people who have concluded that once more the world has been lied to about what really happened in Syria. If you listen carefully to what Al and McKinney said, he has no knowledge of any facts, he only has an opinion.

          I didn’t get an answer to my question about if he still has a job with the CMIC but no answer pretty much tells me he’s triple dipping and is talking his paycheck. That’s real common of guys in his pay grade and they end up collection 3 or 4 retirements. It’s also why the US is bankrupt.

          The US has not made the world safer since 911, it has made it far more dangerous and I can’t think of very much that the government hasn’t lied about. This would just be one more example.

            GH
            Apr 10, 2017 10:47 PM

            You and I are very like-minded, Robert.

            The famous Upton Sinclair quote: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

            But I figure it’s always good to give someone an honorable out, if they will take it. Some take longer than others. Seems Smedley Butler didn’t come around until after he retired, but I still appreciate what he did.

            R.e. ” I can’t think of very much that the government hasn’t lied about,” I must say that the more I study, the more I come to the conclusion that virtually everything important in the US has been inverted with lies. Contrary to Al’s statements this weekend, this is not about hating the US, it is about hating what has been done to a country we love.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:04 PM

            GH, if you are refering to McKenney’s salary, please remember that he quit his position for the reasons that he gave in today’s audio editoria.

            BDC
            Apr 10, 2017 10:01 PM

            Beginning well before 911, the US has become increasingly Trotskyite, where permanent warfare replaces permanent revolution as the operative principle. Even before FDR’s travesty the seeds had been sown. The FED gives an infinite line of credit to the enemies of all good folk.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:33 PM

            GH…….agree with…”not about hating the US, it is hating what has been done to a country we love.”

            Apr 10, 2017 10:50 PM

            Some commentators have never included that caveat!

            Apr 10, 2017 10:07 PM

            Bob, I believe that your first paragraph relates directly to why Jim left the military.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:10 PM

            Sorry GH and Bob, I was at a Funeral, it was almost as interesting as the arrogant and irrational garbage some on this link spew.

            I work as a volunteer to change my local community, I build houses, I take care of my 5 children. I am not a part of a machine. I have an incredible family, and live a simple, but good life, but it has been a hard life for them and me. I believe the US Constitution has made the world a much, much better place – more so than any governing document in history. I believe all men are fallible, most certainly myself, but most try to do right by others, I do. But my beliefs are irrelevant.

            I ask nothing from you. I don’t want your respect or approval. I would only offer unsolicited advice: Your vindictive and angry tone indicates you are a pretty bitter guy with little hope in your heart – you might be happier if you didn’t make such negative judgements. You don’t know me, my motives, or my principles. Making judgements on my character shows ignorance, not intellect.

            The thing that will stop the advance of principle, is quitting to fight for principle. It is really distressing to see so many people on this thread that deride the very system that allows their free thought and voice. So many places do not have this luxury. Sad.

            Apr 10, 2017 10:01 PM

            So true, Jim.

            GH
            Apr 10, 2017 10:03 PM

            Jim,

            We agree on the Constitution.

            So, yes, I’m angry over the surveillance that violates the Constitution in a very dangerous way, justified by an event the explanation for which is unbelievable. I’m also angry over nonstop war for the past 26 years, so much of it based on lies.

            I have tried to keep to key bones of contention that we should be discussing responsibly as a society. But yes, it is an emotional matter, so where I strayed from that purpose I apologize. But I think I raised a fair number of issues that deserve answers.

            Apr 11, 2017 11:05 AM

            Al:

            Unless he is independently wealthy, he has to work for a living. I don’t care why he left the service, I don’t think there is anything implied there in any form. But I’ve got $100 for your favorite charity that says his current day job is part of the CMIC and he’s talking his book.

            I finished flight training in Texas in late 1966 in Kingsville Texas. My instructor was a Marine Captain who had been an F-4 pilot with a tour in Vietnam. Now you need to remember that we didn’t even get over there in force until mid-1965 so there were few guys who had been there and back. My instructor was one of the first back.

            My experience while not recent was that when people are exposed to combat for real instead of combat in theory, they get real anti-war in a hurry. They aren’t the most eager for more war, they are the least eager.

            McKinney claiming “combat” as opposed to “combat zone” doesn’t hold water. Lots of guys served in combat zones and they were the ones who thought more war was just spiffy. He may think that calling me a “peacenik” is an insult but actually I’m quite proud that I finally woke up and realized who the good guys were and who the bad guys were and I understood that I was on the wrong team.

            100% of what the government said during Vietnam turned out to be a lie. 100% of what the cowards and the draft dodgers and the dreaded “peaceniks” said turned out to be true.

            How do I know that last week was a false flag? Because the government said it wasn’t.

          Apr 10, 2017 10:11 PM

          I have to remind you yet again, to listen to the reason that he quit the military.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:36 PM

      GH..you are talking about two different administrations..don’t confuse one with the other…

        GH
        Apr 10, 2017 10:54 PM

        Actually more than two, Gator. The US trained Al Qaeda in the 1980s–Reagan/Bush time. The US nurtured, if not created, ISIS, in Obama/HRC time.

        McKinney says “US will no longer passively watch the world disintegrate into chaos.”

        The US has done anything but–it has actively fomented chaos, under the influence of the Zionists. If I’m wrong, why does McKinney have no rebuttal?

        If you can’t see how this bears on the current situation, it is you who are confused Gator. And from all your one-liners, it is clear that you are.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:03 PM

    Al:
    I used to enjoy somewhat this man’s opinions but with today’s posting and some of his comments this weekend, I’m convinced he’s simply another chest thumping ass, thankfully retired. The spooky part is that our military is overly endowed with his type of mid-level officer who can’t move up in the ranks but feel they are God’s gift to the Nation. A reincarnated George Armstrong Custer.
    It was a personal affront to me and a couple other million who served in Vietnam when he stated in a post to Bob Moriarty that his personal service was “recent and relevant”, implying that only the present counts. As a student of history, few statements could be more ignorant and less truthful.
    He doesn’t have any more access to intelligence than the rest of us so he’s simply chosen sides with the neo-cons and planted his flag. It may be years before the actual truth of what happened in Syria comes out, just like the Tonkin incident. Kunstler asks some good questions in his blog this morning. http://kunstler.com/clusterfuck-nation/wonderland/ Obviously, there is a credibility problem with our actions and McKinney’s arguments fail to dispel most of it IMO.

      Apr 11, 2017 11:40 PM

      Silverdollar,

      I personally like to hear what Jim has to say as it is certainly food for very serious thought. Goes back to my philosophy of listening to what everyone has to say and then making up my own mind. Tough to listen sometimes, but definitely worth the effort.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:51 PM

    There will come a day when good men who gave their oath to defend the constitution, keep that oath. And there will be swamp creatures hanging from every lamp post on the beltway.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:56 PM

    From Lew Rockwell

    As for the alleged chemical weapons attack in Idlib, I see only three possibilities:

    The Syrian Air Force dropped bombs on a rebel weapons depot that was being used to store chemical munitions. Some of the gas was released in the explosions, killing civilians in the area. This is the Russian explanation, and it is a sound one.
    The attack was a false flag, either faked entirely or the result of a deliberate release of the gas by the rebels to elicit sympathy for their cause. The rebels have staged false flag operations before, so we cannot discount this explanation entirely.
    Assad decided to use chemical weapons on the rebels in a militarily insignificant operation, even though he is winning the war and the only real difference such an attack could make would be to bring American intervention against him (which is what happened). Some are claiming that he may have had arcane motives related to the upcoming peace conference (to prevent a Russian-American deal to divide Syria), but this is sketchy. He would be risking Russian wrath and an American attack. Such a maneuver might literally snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
    I give these scenarios a 90%, 9% and 1% probability, respectively.

    https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/04/steven-latulippe/into-the-abyss/

      BDC
      Apr 10, 2017 10:19 PM

      Donald Trump Is An International Law Breaker
      http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2017/04/donald-trump-is-an-international-law-breaker.html

      Donald Trump’s decision to launch cruise missile strikes on a Syrian Air Force Base was based on a lie. In the coming days the American people will learn that the Intelligence Community knew that Syria did not drop a military chemical weapon on innocent civilians in Idlib. Here is what happened:

      1. The Russians briefed the United States on the proposed target. This is a process that started more than two months ago. There is a dedicated phone line that is being used to coordinate and deconflict (i.e., prevent US and Russian air assets from shooting at each other) the upcoming operation.

      2. The United States was fully briefed on the fact that there was a target in Idlib that the Russians believes was a weapons/explosives depot for Islamic rebels.

      3. The Syrian Air Force hit the target with conventional weapons. All involved expected to see a massive secondary explosion. That did not happen. Instead, smoke, chemical smoke, began billowing from the site. It turns out that the Islamic rebels used that site to store chemicals, not sarin, that were deadly. The chemicals included organic phosphates and chlorine and they followed the wind and killed civilians.

      4. There was a strong wind blowing that day and the cloud was driven to a nearby village and caused casualties.

      5. We know it was not sarin. How? Very simple. The so-called “first responders” handled the victims without gloves. If this had been sarin they would have died. Sarin on the skin will kill you. How do I know? I went through “Live Agent” training at Fort McClellan in Alabama.

      There are members of the U.S. military who were aware this strike would occur and it was recorded. There is a film record. At least the Defense Intelligence Agency knows that this was not a chemical weapon attack.

      Col. W. Patrick Lang

    Apr 10, 2017 10:00 PM

    Another view

    Trump’s ‘Wag the Dog’ Moment

    https://consortiumnews.com/2017/04/07/trumps-wag-the-dog-moment/

      CFS
      Apr 10, 2017 10:11 PM

      Trump is no DeNiro. And where were Hoffman and Heche?

      Apr 10, 2017 10:21 PM

      great article on BiBi….Bob…..

    BDC
    Apr 10, 2017 10:21 PM

    Col. W. Patrick Lang
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Patrick_Lang

    Military Service

    While serving in the US Army, Lang graduated from the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He is a decorated veteran of several of the United States’ overseas conflicts. During the Vietnam War, he served in the Special Forces and Military Intelligence.

    He was trained and educated as a specialist in the Middle East and served in that region for many years. He was the first professor of Arabic at the United States Military Academy, where he was twice selected as best classroom teacher of the year.

    At the Defense Intelligence Agency, he 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.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:47 PM

    John 8:44 says it all. We are being lied to by compulsive liars and murderers and their students or fellow travellers. How many god damned wars, revolutions, terrorist attacks and financial crimes have to happen before you people come to your senses and quit believing what the media, government and banks tell you?

      Apr 10, 2017 10:45 PM

      This is from the Gospel of John?

    CFS
    Apr 10, 2017 10:13 PM

    I don’t understand Assad’s use of incendiary bombs on Sunday evening. Concrete buildings do not burn well.

    I don’t understand why China has moved 150,000 troops to the N. Korean border; surely they could not possibly believe Trump would invade!

      Apr 10, 2017 10:20 PM

      I have read where one of their main concerns are Korean refuges escaping across the Han River by the thousands.

        Apr 10, 2017 10:44 PM

        that is interesting……….

        Apr 10, 2017 10:00 PM

        SD:

        I’d be interested in your comments on this but it’s something no one has brought up yet.

        If I was handed a carrier task force loaded with fighters and bombers and was told “solve the North Korea problem” I think the best I could come up with would be to scratch my head and suggest they send the carrier to Sydney where the women are hot and the beer is cold. I don’t see any easy military solution to the issue.

        If someone doesn’t come up with a way to get them to the bargaining table, we are going to be in a heap of crap real soon.

        The constant wars of the last 16 years has pretty much destroyed the military. All the equipment is broken and we asked far more of our troops than was fair. With 70% of Navy planes down for parts and the average age of Air Force planes at 27 years, we not longer have the ability to do much more than throw rocks at the enemy. This is not a good time to be thinking about more wars.

        Apr 11, 2017 11:29 AM

        Sorry, not the Han; the Yalu River

    Apr 10, 2017 10:18 PM

    Anybody see this on Zero Hedge: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-10/liberals-call-ouster-democrat-representative-after-she-questions-syria-attacks
    Apparently no one should ever challenge the official line!

    Apr 10, 2017 10:50 PM

    Many of you disasgree with my views and some of you are actually slandering me.

    Do I desere that for providing a completely open website?

    If I am wrong I will admit my mistake. As as much as I disagree with some of Bob’s accusations, I will also not slander him as some of you have slandered me.

    Continue to voice your opinions on this open and uncencored site.

    Big Al

      Apr 10, 2017 10:54 PM

      Al:
      So you are retracting the “braggart” line?

      McKinney mocked my service as an intelligence officer so he needed to know some of my qualifications. That ain’t bragging.

      I’m fully qualified to talk about war. It may not be recent but war is war.

        CFS
        Apr 10, 2017 10:48 PM

        Mr. Moriarty, If we are to believe your
        http://www.321gold.com/editorials/moriarty/moriarty041017.html
        theory, we have to accept either that Trump is heavily pro-Israel, or that he is dominated by advisers that are heavily pro-Israel.
        I have not seen seen significant evidence that he, himself, is heavily pro-Israel.
        I realize that his son-in-law is Jewish and his daughter is relatively recently converted Jewish. I have criticized quite heavily Jared Kushner, not because of his religion, but because of his youth and lack of international experience.
        I am ignorant of the faith of Steve Bannon, whom I felt was a moderating influence on foreign policy. Is there any specific evidence that would support your theory other than the wishes of Israeli leadership.

          Apr 10, 2017 10:02 PM

          Thanks, CFS

          Apr 11, 2017 11:21 AM

          CFS:

          If you look at who he appointed as ambassador to Israel, his former lawyer who is to the right of the most right wing Zionists I think you would see he’s very pro-Israel, the right wing Israel. Through his actions, it really looks like he has been blackmailed or something has changed his attitude in a hurry.

          I don’t know if he is being played or just having his strings pulled but Israel made it clear 35 years ago that they saw inter-Arab conflict just wonderful. Well, through their actions they seem to have proved that was their policy all along. But of course few dare be critical of Israel, after all, they are always the victims.

          I think your comments on Jared are probably valid but I don’t know anything except what I have read but what you say makes sense.

          If we invoked the Stephenson Act, we could sort out the issue in a month but Americans are so comfortable with accepting that the government doesn’t give a damn about the law or the Constitution.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:38 PM

    Owl……Please take note……..that anything that I may have written was in no way to slander you…hoping this serves as an apology, if you were offended in any manner.
    Respectfully………j.

      Apr 10, 2017 10:50 PM

      I don’t believe that you have ever slandered me. Thanks Indy!

    Apr 10, 2017 10:44 PM

    Could this be the way it would end.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn6OVLK0MBI

      Apr 10, 2017 10:48 PM

      Hope not and I believe it will not, Doug.

      By the way, an interesting read is “Thirty Seconds After” which we read in our discussion/book club.

        CFS
        Apr 10, 2017 10:22 PM

        I thank you, Big Al, very much for this unique forum. It has never been my intention to be other than polite to members of the Korelin extended “family”, even though I may at times vehemently disagree with a statement or two expressed by others. I realize at times I may phrase my own statements aggressively, but I do try to always back up statements with facts or references. Above all I try to inform and educate. It is never my intention to offend, and I usually try not to respond to any insult I may personally receive.
        I hope this forum continues for many years. Thank you and Cory for all your efforts and time.

          Apr 10, 2017 10:03 PM

          You are one of the best CFS!

      Apr 10, 2017 10:05 PM

      Doug:

      Silly question. Of course that is the way it will end. Do you believe either Russia or China would sit and allow the US to throw missiles at them. That is the end game if we keep coming up with more and more stupid reasons to bomb people.

      Did I read correctly? We are in Yemen now?

      How many members of Congress could even find Yemen on a map? Are there good guys there that need our support to defend the US and our homes?

    CFS
    Apr 10, 2017 10:08 PM

    With the Tillerson-Lavrov meeting coming up, I hope Trump has planned out a “win” desire.

    To this end:
    I believe Assad replacement is a waste of effort.
    What is the point? Syrians are not used to democracy….that would not work for long.

    Ibelieve the optimum result would be agreement with the Russians to establish safe zones.
    Hopefully that would develop cooperation between the US and Russia to maintain the safe zones.
    Also, that would be the quickest and easiest way to end the Refugee problem.
    Neither the US or Russia gets a total win, which is probably the safest situation to inhibit further antagonism.

    I hope, but am not convinced Trump is thinking far enough ahead.

    BDC
    Apr 10, 2017 10:21 PM
    CFS
    Apr 10, 2017 10:41 PM

    Why would the US want to destabilize the conflict in Syria?
    Assad is attacking ISIS and killing potential terrorists. Regime change, Obama’s goal for Syria, never made any sense. Syria has never been a democracy.
    Bashar Assad had a degree in medecine and was studying Opthamology in London when his father had a heart attack, and was elected by the people of Syria (Admittedly not by a > 50% majority) after his father died.
    I cannot understand why the US would try to impose an Anglo-Saxon type of democracy. It has never worked. It did not work in Iran by deposing the Shah. It did not work in Iraq. It did not work in Afghanistan. It did not work in Libya. It did not work in Egypt.

    Eistein would call such a policy insane.

      BDC
      Apr 10, 2017 10:50 PM

      That was Spicer’s attempted recovery, this is the beginning:
      “The goal for the United States is twofold….. it’s 1. to make sure we destabilize Syria……um…….”

      Apr 10, 2017 10:58 PM

      As would I Professor.

      Apr 11, 2017 11:29 AM

      OK. Iran had a democracy. Or a democratically elected government before the Shah. The U.S. made sure the democracy was replaced. Maybe Iran wanted to charge too much for oil, I forget. You might want to do a search on Mossadeq, and Kermit Roosevelt.

    CFS
    Apr 10, 2017 10:09 PM

    A relatively non-partisan discussion of North Korea.
    (Courtesy Aljazeera!)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-cBxMA1yvs

      Apr 10, 2017 10:56 PM

      We could have a major problem soon.

        Apr 11, 2017 11:30 AM

        Agree wholeheartedly with this comment of yours, Al. They have a mad-man, almost a deity in charge and things are quickly going from bad to worse. I don’t see a lot of help coming from China. Perhaps they’re confounded as badly as we are in handling the NKs. In reading the history of that war, I found out that it was far better to be captured by the Chinese than the North Koreans. They were animals then and haven’t changed; only better armed.
        I guess somebody could have eliminated him when he was a student in Switzerland years ago but who knew? Much of their armaments are buried deep so bombing won’t get it all. The answer is still in our future and nobody can see it yet. It won’t be good, whatever develops!
        Thank you for this site. It’s a major part of my day.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:10 PM

    I’m glad I raised my kids to not believe in religion or politicians.

    Apr 10, 2017 10:49 PM

    Like Ron Paul and Robert Moriarty, to name just two, Michael Rivero gets it:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5FWAuhvNeA

    Apr 11, 2017 11:56 AM

    Matthew…Thanks for the link…Listen to this,folks.

      CFS
      Apr 11, 2017 11:50 AM

      Yes, Michael Riveiro gets it.

      Sad how often history repeats it self. All the way back to “Remember the Maine” and the Spanish-American War of 1898.

    CFS
    Apr 11, 2017 11:06 AM

    While I do not particularly wish to see Trump impeached, this may be the only way to avert WW III. (Not that I would expect an impeachment to succeed, because the parties would probably vote along political lines.)
    It is difficult to estimate just how much politicians believe their own propaganda.
    Certainly, being mostly lawyers, they tend to be as dumb as rocks when it comes to economics. I believe most either have no idea of the pending debt implosion, or simply choose not to think about it.

      Apr 11, 2017 11:28 AM

      CFS:

      There is a bit of a logical flaw in your comment. When you want to get rid of a problem, you also need to think of what you replace it with. The Neocons are jumping with joy at the idea of killing or replacing Assad. But with whom? My opinion is that it’s not a civil war, it’s an attempted regime change started by Israel and in writing for many years, the US, Turkey, the UK and France all bought into the “he’s a bad guy and needs changing” but with whom? None of the alternatives to Assad are any better than he is. He was elected president in a fair vote, it’s was with a 70% majority, not a minority and like it or not, the Syrian people should run the country, not Israel or the US or Turkey or the UK or France.

      If you impeach Trump, do we really want someone as president who is afraid to have dinner with a woman not his wife. Someone who can’t drink a glass of wine without his wife watching over. I know there are a lot of bible thumpers on this board but that’s really weird.

        BDC
        Apr 11, 2017 11:53 AM

        Pence is the hard cop.

    Apr 11, 2017 11:38 AM

    War crime……………30,000 ozs of SILVER go into a Tomahawk missile….X59 missiles , Did anyone count the missiles? Now that is a lot of missing silver……..

      Apr 11, 2017 11:40 AM

      $540,000 bucks per hit………….

        Apr 11, 2017 11:41 AM

        No wonder the govt wants to keep the price of silver down………

      Apr 11, 2017 11:15 AM

      Left military contracting work as they were retiring F-4’s in the mid-80’s. (or so I thought. I see they remained in service. And are still used by Iran.) Lets round the cost of an F-4 up to 3 millions dollars. Wikipedia says the cost of the F-35 is around 122 million. I’ve seen magazine articles quoting costs almost 3x higher. Undercoating and extended warranty?

      CFS
      Apr 11, 2017 11:45 AM

      30,000 ozs per cruise missile is a ludicrous amount.
      (That would be over 900 kilograms!)

      My best estimate, even assuming 15hr duration silver batteries, would be about 15 kg.
      (P.S. I teach teach electronics at Crane Naval Base in Indiana. They air-taxied me there to teach.)

        CFS
        Apr 11, 2017 11:49 AM

        oops….I did teach

        Apr 11, 2017 11:16 PM

        Lot of firecracker money……….
        Of course there are numbers all over the place…..I looked this one up, and just took the number at face value…….
        I did see another one that said 500 oz.(guess)at a Raytheon article, but, then it also , said they were not telling.

    GH
    Apr 11, 2017 11:08 AM

    Jim McKinney,

    I was tired when I made my response last night, or it would have been a bit more articulate. I don’t question your intentions, or that you are a good family man or member of your community. I have a brother who is a military man, with whom I used to disagree on these things (we no longer discuss them, to keep the peace), but I don’t question his honor. The question is judgement. You question my judgement as well. That’s fine, that’s what debates are about.

    It’s about more than just surveillance and war. Those are just highlights pointing towards the big picture: abroad, millions of lives ended, many times that many lives shattered. In the US, the dismantling of our constitutional rights and enslaving us with debt.

    Does anyone think the US is better now than it was 20 years ago, or 30, 40, 50? Why not? A few destroyed buildings, even if the official story were true, are not to blame. The combination of our response, and the much longer term rot from the top, did that.

    The notion that somehow the US has the moral high ground in this instance because of the horror of chemical weapons turns a huge blind eye to the fact that the US has been committing non-stop crimes against humanity for decades. Crimes vastly larger in scale than this gas attack–even if the US version of this gas attack is true. We have no standing to be the arbiter of right and wrong in other countries, other than might makes right.

    I stand by my contention that what the US has done over the past 16 years are the worst crimes of the 21st century. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, and more. If we continue on this course, the worst are likely yet to come.

    I also stand by my contention that these crimes have been accompanied by a string of incredibly audacious lies, from 9/11 and our relationship to Al Qaeda to ISIS, our pretext for destroying Libya, our version of the events in Ukraine, as well as many more. If we want to get to the bottom of our problems and start moving in a positive direction again, we must get to the root of these lies and neutralize those behind them. It goes deep. I’m not sure if there’s a bigger lie than the fiat banking system we’ve lived under for over a century now. And it turns out these lies and those behind them are not un-related.

    Where we agree is that we both want what is best for the US, and we both value the Constitution. I believe it has long been recognized that a permanent state of war is utterly corrosive to the values embodied in the Constitution.

    Doug posted a link on an EMP attack. It brought to mind Mr. Miyagi on the Crane Technique: “If do right, no can defense.” How many hate-filled fanatics have we created by throwing whole nations into chaos and slaughtering their friends and family? Why wouldn’t people resort to such an extreme measure, if they believe their country is going to get the same treatment so many others have? Ultimately this path only leads to one place.

    The US has a role in restoring peace and order, but it’s not by doing more of the same. Given what we have seen over the past many years, there is no reserve of trust left to enable belief that this current event isn’t just that–more of the same.