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The OPCW is untrustworthy, its findings notoriously serving Western interests, functioning as an imperial agent.
Last October, Russia blasted the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), probing reported uses of CWs in Syria – totally ignoring evidence and conclusions submitted by Russian experts, according to its Foreign Ministry, saying:
“(I)t is evident after looking through the report that the conclusions and opinions of Russian specialists that were referred to JIM at its own request have been totally ignored.”The OPCW’s JIM report lied, wrongfully blaming Damascus for an alleged Khan Sheikhoun CW attack in April 2017, along with another committed by US-supported terrorists, not Syrian forces, in Maarat Umm Hawsh on September 16, 2016.
“Moreover, it gives no answers to our questions either. Instead, the report has diametrically opposite conclusions derived by some anonymous research centers and ‘independent experts,’ which lack convincing proof to be backed.”
No evidence suggests Syrian use of CWs anytime during years of war. Plenty indicts US-supported terrorists, toxic agents supplied by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, perhaps by Washington and Israel as well – each incident falsely blamed on Damascus.
Last November, Russia and Washington presented opposing Security Council resolutions on extending the OPCW/UN Joint Investigation Mechanism (JIM).
The sinister US text included a provision for invoking the UN Charter’s Chapter VII, authorizing “action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security” – rejected by Russia.
Its draft resolution called for revising JIM’s conclusions. Work done failed to conform to international standards, it said.
OPCW/JIM inspectors failed to visit the Kahn Sheikhoun site reported on – presenting phony conclusions lacking credibility. Russia and Washington vetoed each other’s resolutions.
A deplorable French-led initiative proposes empowering the OPCW to name perpetrators of CW attacks, a scheme to bypass Russia’s ability to veto US-led Western resolutions, aiming to justify unjustifiable greater aggression on Syria, Iran in the wings for something similar.
The OPCW is charged with promoting and verifying adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Its mandate includes conducting “credible and transparent” on-site inspections to verify use of and destruction of these weapons.
Transforming the organization into more of a pro-Western tool than already is totally unacceptable.
Empowering it to name perpetrators of CW attacks assures unjustifiably blaming Syria with greater authority – a step toward escalated US-led aggression rather than stepping back from the brink.
Washington, Britain, France and their imperial partners stop at nothing to advance their destructive agenda – why it’s crucial to challenge their aim for escalated aggression in Syria and elsewhere.
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Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the CRG, Correspondent of Global Research based in Chicago.
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The original source of this article is Global Research
Copyright © Stephen Lendman, Global Research, 2018
