The "chemical attack" on Douma and the hypocrisy at the UN

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/09/politics/haley-un-russia-syria-attack/index.html

The US will respond to the Assad regime's alleged chemical attack against Syrian civilians. 

I have mentioned before how I loathe and despise hypocrisy and those who peddle it, without it seems, them having even the slightest hint of shame or embarrassment. Yesterday, at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Nikki Haley the America Ambassador to the UN, delivered a speech which was dripping in hypocrisy and repetition as she condemned Russia, Syria and Iran for the alleged chemical attack on Douma on Saturday (7th April), killing 49 people and leaving many injured. In a long and rambling diatribe, Haley used the phrase, "I could hold up a photograph", on so many occasions that it was not possible to keep count and her description of the photographic "evidence", was presumably as graphic as the imagery of the photo. Initially, her "I could hold up a photograph" was restricted to descriptions of dead children with froth at their mouths allegedly as a result of chlorine gas poisoning. As nobody bothered to remind her, or even mention the fact that there are voluminous numbers of photographs of Palestinian children killed in Gaza as a result of air raids where white phosphorous or other illegal noxious substances banned under international convention, were used against the civilian population of that tormented country, we must draw attention to the fact that the United States was conspicuously silent on those occasions.

Continuing her speech in that monotonous South Carolina drawl, Haley cited instances of air attacks on hospitals, ambulances and rescue vehicles, civil defence centres and other civilian targets, and without a blink of her eye or hint of irony stated "using weapons freely given to the regime by Russia". Perhaps the most incredible and bizarre statement during her 9 minute 45 second harangue, was that criticising Russia for using their UN veto 5 times on this issue alone and 11 in all "to save Assad". Again, Haley has a selective memory, conveniently forgetting that only 10 days ago, on the 31st March, the United States employed their veto to bock a resolution calling for an "independent and transparent investigation" into the clashes on the Gaza-Israel border that left 16 Palestinians dead and 1,400 wounded. She also forgets that the United States has used its veto power on no less than 43 occasions to block resolutions which could be considered as critical of Israel.

The remainder of her "speech" was no more than a meandering collection of clichés about "life gong on" or references to "an English village" (presumably the "village" of Salisbury), presumably to highlight the impotence of the UN, an impotence which the United States has itself been the major factor in creating. Haley concluded with a veiled threat to Russia, Syria and Iran to the fact that "The United States will respond", echoing the threats made earlier by President Trump, promising "a forceful response" and ""We have a lot of options militarily, and a response would be decided shortly".

As long ago as April 2014, and even before, I have written that the United States, GT Britain and to a lesser extent France, have been and still are, itching to attack Syria and to bring about regime change in that country. With their backing and support for a number of different rebel groups, they have managed to bring about nothing but chaos in that country as many of the groups, supported by the "West", have different objectives and often fight with each other to be the dominant party in the overthrow of the Assad regime. The "Western powers" have taken a bad situation of 7 years ago and made it infinitely worse with money arms and logistical support for practically all of the warring factions. They have no plan or objective other than to overthrow Assad and implement regime change in the country.

This is a dangerous time for all of us with Donald Trump in the Whitehouse, Nikki Haley at the UN and John Bolton as National Security Advisor, a menacing trio of unstable and unpredictable "public servants", the stage is set for a conflagration which could engulf not only the region but the whole world. We must strive to avoid being dragged into this mess on the coattails of the United States and seek to avert a catastrophe of biblical proportions.