Difference between revisions of "Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons"

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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_the_Prohibition_of_Chemical_Weapons
 
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_the_Prohibition_of_Chemical_Weapons
 
|headquarters=The Hague, Netherlands
 
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The '''Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons''' ('''OPCW''') is an intergovernmental organisation, located at The Hague, [[Netherlands]]. On 30 June 2017, the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) published a report confirming that people were exposed to sarin, a chemical weapon, on 4 April 2017 in the [[Khan Shaykhun]] area, Idlib Province in the Syrian Arab Republic. The FFM report was shared with States Parties to the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]] and the OPCW’s Executive Council, which will consider the FFM’s findings at an Executive Council meeting scheduled for 5 July 2017.<ref>''[https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-fact-finding-mission-confirms-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-khan-shaykhun-on-4-april-2017/ "OPCW Fact-Finding Mission Confirms Use of Chemical Weapons in Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017"]''</ref>
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The '''Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons''' ('''OPCW''') is an intergovernmental organisation, located at The Hague, [[Netherlands]].
  
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==FFM report==
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On 30 June 2017, the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) published a report confirming that people were exposed to sarin, a chemical weapon, on 4 April 2017 in the [[Khan Shaykhun]] area, Idlib Province in the [[Syrian Arab Republic]]. The FFM report was shared with States Parties to the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]] and the OPCW’s Executive Council, which will consider the FFM’s findings at an Executive Council meeting scheduled for 5 July 2017.<ref>''[https://www.opcw.org/news/article/opcw-fact-finding-mission-confirms-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-khan-shaykhun-on-4-april-2017/ "OPCW Fact-Finding Mission Confirms Use of Chemical Weapons in Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017"]''</ref>
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==CW chatter==
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Chatter about [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] and chemical weapons has re-emerged, after a [[Pentagon]] spokesperson said that the US has recently seen activity in the country suggesting “preparations” for “chemical weapons use”. [[Donald Trump|Trump]]’s White House has warned Assad that “he and his military will pay a heavy price” if “another” attack takes place.
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The [[BBC]] covered the development on 28 June. In fact, the story was plastered across most of major news sites. But at no point in the BBC story does it mention the new evidence [[Seymour Hersh]]’s investigation has brought to light.<ref>''[https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article165905578/Trump-s-Red-Line.html "Trump‘s Red Line"]''</ref> Instead, the BBC cites the [[Russia]]ns arguing against Assad’s guilt and recalls a tip it received from an undisclosed “Western intelligence agency” claiming the [[Syria]]n government is still producing chemical weapons.
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But Hersh’s evidence, based on testimony from involved military and intelligence officials and transcripts of real-time communications of the event, didn’t get a look in.<ref>''[https://www.thecanary.co/2017/06/30/people-tearing-bbc-alarming-decision-just-made-video/ "People should be tearing into the BBC for the alarming decision it just made"]''</ref>
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==Media censoring evidence==
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On 30 June, the [[OPCW]] claimed evidence of sarin gas was found in the aftermath of the April attack. It did not, however, conclude who was responsible for its presence. Hersh states that his investigation found that:
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:“Syria did NOT drop a sarin bomb that morning. It was known to everybody in the command. Period.”
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But UK Foreign Secretary [[Boris Johnson]] is already calling for international action against “those responsible”. And much of the media, including the BBC, is hiding Hersh’s evidence from public view.
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People deserve to see all the information. Because the stakes are very high. A military confrontation with Syria would inevitably draw Russia into the conflict, as an ally of Assad and a power currently operating in the country. And it would lead to even more suffering for the Syrian people.
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Politicians and the media fed people dodgy evidence in order to justify the invasion of Iraq. But with the media now censoring evidence on Syria, it looks like it’s trying to fool people again – or at the very least failing to do its job. We must not fall for its shameful behaviour a second time round.<ref>''[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/30/boris-johnson-urges-action-against-assad-chemical-watchdog-confirms/ "Boris Johnson urges action against Assad after chemical watchdog concludes sarin used in Syria attack"]''</ref>
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{{SMWDocs}}
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
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Revision as of 10:25, 1 July 2017

Group.png Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons   Twitter WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
OPCW.jpg
HeadquartersThe Hague, Netherlands
Staff500
Exposed byIan Henderson (OPCW)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organisation, located at The Hague, Netherlands.

FFM report

On 30 June 2017, the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) published a report confirming that people were exposed to sarin, a chemical weapon, on 4 April 2017 in the Khan Shaykhun area, Idlib Province in the Syrian Arab Republic. The FFM report was shared with States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW’s Executive Council, which will consider the FFM’s findings at an Executive Council meeting scheduled for 5 July 2017.[1]

CW chatter

Chatter about Assad and chemical weapons has re-emerged, after a Pentagon spokesperson said that the US has recently seen activity in the country suggesting “preparations” for “chemical weapons use”. Trump’s White House has warned Assad that “he and his military will pay a heavy price” if “another” attack takes place.

The BBC covered the development on 28 June. In fact, the story was plastered across most of major news sites. But at no point in the BBC story does it mention the new evidence Seymour Hersh’s investigation has brought to light.[2] Instead, the BBC cites the Russians arguing against Assad’s guilt and recalls a tip it received from an undisclosed “Western intelligence agency” claiming the Syrian government is still producing chemical weapons.

But Hersh’s evidence, based on testimony from involved military and intelligence officials and transcripts of real-time communications of the event, didn’t get a look in.[3]

Media censoring evidence

On 30 June, the OPCW claimed evidence of sarin gas was found in the aftermath of the April attack. It did not, however, conclude who was responsible for its presence. Hersh states that his investigation found that:

“Syria did NOT drop a sarin bomb that morning. It was known to everybody in the command. Period.”

But UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is already calling for international action against “those responsible”. And much of the media, including the BBC, is hiding Hersh’s evidence from public view.

People deserve to see all the information. Because the stakes are very high. A military confrontation with Syria would inevitably draw Russia into the conflict, as an ally of Assad and a power currently operating in the country. And it would lead to even more suffering for the Syrian people.

Politicians and the media fed people dodgy evidence in order to justify the invasion of Iraq. But with the media now censoring evidence on Syria, it looks like it’s trying to fool people again – or at the very least failing to do its job. We must not fall for its shameful behaviour a second time round.[4]

 

Employee on Wikispooks

EmployeeJobAppointed
Carolyn BrowneDirector of Verification1 February 2019

 

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