Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 16 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 9/1/13

Obama's weak evidence for Syria attack

By       (Page 1 of 3 pages)   1 comment
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Michael Collins
Become a Fan
  (120 fans)

doubt
by
Michael Collins

The intelligence assessment sent to Congress by President Obama supports the president's request that Congress authorize military action against Syria.  The assessment consists of a series of assertions about evidence available without any display of that evidence.  The materials are "classified," according to the document.  That means we won't see the evidence.  It also means that Congress can't investigate or debate the quality and reliability of the evidence in public since that would reveal classified information.

Since the chemical incident on August 21, the White House has argued with increasing confidence that the Syrian government was responsible for initiating the attack.

Along with the request, the White House included a document describing the evidence used by the President to reach his conclusion on responsibility for the attack.  The document is titled, U.S. Government Assessment of the Syrian Government's  Use of Chemical Weapons on August 21, 2013This document is the foundation for the president's plan to attack Syria.  As such, it is worth a serious look.

--

Evaluation of the document requires understanding the following:

1) There is no proof in the document.  It is a series of assertions without any evidence attached.  There are no photographs, diagrams, or exhibits.  There are only assertions of proof, which are unpersuasive absent some more detail.

2) A major portion of the presumed direct evidence evaluated by the administration comes from sources that want and, in some cases, need a U.S. attack on the Syrian government.   Evidence from rebel factions would carry a heavy bias. Any foreign intelligence agencies in rebel territory would, likely, be sympathetic to the rebels.  The rebels have been losing and need help.

Key arguments offered in the president's "Assessment" document sent to Congress

Degree of confidence

"The United States Government assesses with high confidence that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs on August 21, 2013. "

The report begins by stating that the Obama administration has "high confidence" about the nature of the attack and the perpetrator.

"Our high confidence assessment is the strongest position that the U.S. Intelligence Community can take short of confirmation."

"High confidence" does not equal "confirmation."  Aren't there paths to confirmation, for example, the United Nations inspectors report?  Is the administration sharing their data with the UN team investigating the incident?  Why wouldn't the administration wait for the UN report in hopes of getting "confirmation?"

Classified evidence that we, the public, will never see

"" the regime used a nerve agent" The "all-source assessments are based on human, signals, and geospatial intelligence as well as a significant body of open source reporting."  The assessments are "classified" but have been "shared with Congress.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Valuable 3   Must Read 1   Well Said 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Michael Collins Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Ukraine President Once Agent for U.S. State Department

Worst President Ever - Barack H. Obama

It's official! You're on your own

Rigged Elections for Romney?

Real Unemployment at 23% - Dampening the Excitement

Humiliation And Death As A Tool Of National Policy

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend