Syria chemical weapon attack - Whodunit?

by Eze Eluchie

Whilst congratulating the leadership of the United States and Russia for their sensible and ambitious efforts at a resolution of the Syrian chemical weapon use crisis, one cannot but reflect that when peace seemeth most likely, the prospect of violent escalation looms most. The leadership of the two countries have shown exceptional foresight and pragmatism, in the present process, more particularly so with the US leader who risked domestic popularity and respect but eventually ended up charting a path that has allowed the world a fresh vista at peace in the face of a most atrocious escalation of the Syrian crisis, at minimal cost and wastage of lives.

I have always opined that though despotic in his reign, Syrian President al-Assad may not have, in the face of increasing gains against rebel forces in the weeks preceding the chemical weapon use, ordered his forces to use chemical weapons. The agreement currently brokered by the US and Russia fails to address the likely other sources from whence the chemical weapons attack could have emanated nor does it make any efforts to address a cessation to the Syrian civil war which has killed over 100,000 people and rendered several million Syrians either internally displaced or  refugees in neighbouring countries.

The crime committed by the use of chemical weapons has unfortunately, in the heat of the passion generated by the images of hundreds writhing in pains as they died slow and painful chemical weapon induced deaths, not been adequately investigated. One basic rule in investigating crimes and ascertaining culprits thereof, is to ascertain who would have the greatest interest in the proceeds of the crime, had opportunity and resources to execute same. You then begin to look up each option and eliminate based on evidence available.

In addition to fringe and terrorist elements amongst Syrian rebel forces, other international players hell-bent on seeing the demise of the al-Assad dynasty in Syria also constitute likely suspects who were not investigated in the rush to vilify a valian. It may be in the best interest of the world to extend the search for who spearheaded the use of chemical weapons to amongst others, foreign governments with links to some rebel groups who would have given anything to see the demise of al-Asssad.  Some of these countries include: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its appendages in the Middle East, and the Republic of Egypt under the current military dictators.

I am particularly intrigued by the prospect of further investigating the Egyptian angle to the crisis. In my opinion, the present authorities in Egypt are looking increasingly suspect. The shift of international attention to Syria since the 21^st August chemical weapon attack has allowed General Sisi and his gang in Egypt to get away with all manners of atrocities in their merciless crackdown on opposition to their rule. Did the Egyptian rulers benefit from and have opportunity to execute or order the execution of the Syrian chemical weapon attack? Could they have done it or sponsored or supported it? Was it the Saudi’s? Was it any of the al-Qeada linked terrorists embedded with the rebels? Was al-Assad devilish and dumb enough to have done it? Whodunit?

The answer seems as distant now as on the day the attacks were launched. The earlier concrete responses are arrived at and appropriate international sanctions bequeathed on the perpetrators, the earlier the current peace brokered will have a chance of real success.

With the tentative agreement worked out between the US and Russia  it will not be totally out of character for the instigators of the original attack to carry out a more extensive and deadly chemical weapon attack - this would automatically rubbish the present feeling of amity and peace over the Syrian crisis and bring us all back to the precarious situation experienced in the days after August 21^st .

Let's brace for the worst and hope for the best.

Picture: Meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and Egypt’s interim President Adli Mansour, in Cairo, soon after the attacks on September 1, 2013. © REUTERS