BBC Producer Says Syria 2018 Douma Chemical Attack Footage “Was Staged”

[mr wonder]

BBC Producer Says Syria 2018 Douma Chemical Attack Footage “Was Staged”

Now approaching nearly a year after the April 7, 2018 alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria — which the White House used as a pretext to bomb Syrian government facilities and bases throughout Damascus"



Even though the MSM and and most on the left and right ASSUMED it was "another" Chemical attack by Assad on "his own people". And many wanted to not just Bomb Assad but invade and overthrow him for it.

there were several people at the time who pointed out that this video "evidence" of chemical attack, and the story around it seems FAKE.
I posted some of those reports then.

But now a BBC reporter reports it so i guess for those that feel the need to wait for an MSM outlet to report facts before they believe any "conspiracy" about Fake News against a dictator, or that the MSM reports fake war propaganda, Or that the U.S. Gov't and intel agencies might allow or PROMOTE a false stories to give cover/excuse for attacking a foreign country.
hopefully it will not seem so strange if people question reports of "Chemical attacks" and the accused Perps. Even if they aren't "nice people".

BBC Producer Says Syria Douma Chemical Attack Footage “Was Staged”

Well-known BBC Syria producer Riam Dalati shocked his nearly 20,000 twitter followers by stating that after a “six-month investigation” he has concluded, “I can prove without a doubt that the Douma Hospital scene was staged.”

Now approaching nearly a year after the April 7, 2018 alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria — which the White House used as a pretext to bomb Syrian government facilities and bases throughout Damascus — a BBC reporter who investigated the incident on the ground has issued public statements saying the “Assad sarin attack” on Douma was indeed “staged”.
Riam Dalati is a well-known BBC Syria producer who has long reported from the region. He shocked his nearly 20,000 twitter followers on Wednesday, which includes other mainstream journalists from major outlets, by stating that after a “six-month investigation” he has concluded, “I can prove without a doubt that the Douma Hospital scene was staged.”
The “hospital scene” is a reference to part of the horrid footage played over and over again on international networks showing children in a Douma hospital being hosed off and treated by doctors and White Helmets personnel as victims of the alleged chemical attack.

The BBC’s Dalati stated on Wednesday:
After almost 6 months of investigations, I can prove without a doubt that the Douma Hospital scene was staged. No fatalities occurred in the hospital.”
He noted he had interviewed a number of White Helmets and opposition activists while reaching that conclusion.
He continued in a follow-up tweet:
Russia and at least one NATO country knew about what happened in the hospital. Documents were sent. However, no one knew what really happened at the flats apart from activists manipulating the scene there. This is why Russia focused solely on discrediting the hospital scene.

Dalati’s mention of activists at the flats “manipulating the scene there” is a reference to White Helmets and rebel activist produced footage purporting to show the deadly aftermath of a chemical attack inside a second scene — a bombed-out apartment showing dozens of dead bodies.

Tragic and gruesome images of what appeared the “gassed” corpses of young children and women strewn about an apartment building, were recycled endlessly in mainstream media at the time, which the Trump administration referenced in its decision to strike Damascus with some 100 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Dalati continued:
Truth is James Harkin got the basics right in terms of Douma’s “propaganda” value. The ATTACK DID HAPPEN, Sarin wasn’t used, but we’ll have to wait for OPCW to prove Chlorine or otherwise. However, everything else around the attack was manufactured for maximum effect.
The BBC producer added the following details as part of the thread:
I can tell you that Jaysh al-Islam ruled Douma with an iron fist. They coopted activists, doctors and humanitarians with fear and intimidation. In fact, one of the 3 or 4 people filming the scene was Dr. Abu Bakr Hanan, a “brute and shifty” doctor affiliated with Jaysh Al-Islam. The narrative was that “there weren’t enough drs” but here is one filming and not taking part of the rescue efforts. Will keep the rest for later.

A few hours after making the statements Dalati switched his verified Twitter account to “private”, likely after the Russian Embassy in the UK seized upon and began promoting the admission. A number of articles quickly appeared in Russian media as well.
The Russian Foreign Ministry weighed in on Thursday after the BBC producer’s admission, especially since it’s been Moscow’s position the whole time that the events surrounding the Douma attack were staged.
Russia’s TASS news agency cited ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who slammed the “theater of the absurd” connected to the April 7 events:
The culmination of this theater of absurd may be a statement by a BBC producer who confirmed based on his own research that the footage [in Syria’s Douma] had been staged with direct participation of the White Helmets,” Zakharova said, noting that Russia wants to listen to the company’s position because it actively covered the events from the perspective of supporting the steps of the so-called US-led coalition in Syria.

Russia is now demanding that the BBC produce the results of its investigation for Moscow to review and evaluate.
The BBC’s Dalati made the statements in response to a lengthy investigative report by James Harkin writing for The Intercept. Harkin had examined the scenes and physical environs of the alleged Douma attack and interviewed eyewitnesses on site. His report paints a complex picture of propaganda and deeply compromised rebel sources such as Saudi-backed Jaish al Islam, which had control of Douma amidst a Syrian government onslaught to retake the town.

The “hospital scene” footage, now called “staged” by a BBC producer, circulated widely among media outlets at the time:
Harkin made mention of plausible early reports that the Douma victims had actually died of asphyxiation while hiding in an enclosed space or bunker due to repeated waves of conventional ordinance fired by the Syrian Army:
When it came to Douma, the Russians weren’t the only ones who were skeptical, at least initially, that chemical weapons had been used. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based outfit that leans toward the opposition but whose reporting network inside the country is usually seen as most authoritative by the international media, noted the day after the attack that people had died in Douma through suffocation, but couldn’t say whether chemical weapons had been used.
The Intercept report also highlighted the fact that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons investigation flatly contradicted Washington’s claims that sarin had been used. Instead, “samples collected at both locations turned up ‘various chlorinated organic chemicals’ along with ‘the residues of explosive’ — not quite the same thing as saying that chlorine had been used as a chemical weapon…” according to the report.

Harkin further underscored that the OPCW’s on-site findings came as “something of a surprise” to analysts who had long parroted the early US and mainstream media claims of a confirmed chemical attack:
At least some of that caution appears to have been warranted. Three months after the attack, the OPCW released its interim report into what happened in Douma. The report found no evidence of organophosphorus nerve agents like sarin either at the site or in samples from the casualties — something of a surprise, because the suspected use of sarin had been one of the justifications for American airstrikes back in April, and alleged Syrian chemical weapons facilities their primary target. But the investigators did find something else.
Interestingly, the BBC’s Dalati had actually first hinted he knew that elements surrounding the Douma attack had been staged a mere days after the incident.

In a now deleted April 11, 2018 tweet, he stated:

Sick and tired of activists and rebels using corpses of dead children to stage emotive scenes for Western consumption. Then they wonder why some serious journos are questioning part of the narrative.”

Thus far mainstream networks have not picked up on this latest bombshell admission from the BBC producer, but it will be interesting to see if there’s any formal response from the BBC based on the Russian foreign ministry’s request.

Top Photo | The aftermath of an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, April, 7, 2018. Photo | Screenshot from White Helmets video

Source | ZeroHedge
https://www.mintpressnews.com/bbc-pr...staged/255152/

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...-6-month-syria

[mr wonder]

the video and reporting that went along with the Douma "Chemical Attack" Is the WORST kind of FAKE NEWS.
the kind that gets people killed.
that topples leaders and nations.
that starts BS wars.

We all have be Skeptical of all reports and wait for significant evidence before we become a lynch mob in the services of parties known and/or unknown. Ready to destroy some fill in the blank enemy de jour.

we've gotta be like Joe Friday with ALL media and Intel agency reports and socalled authoritative official announcements.

[mr wonder]

Linked Below is the Thread from last year that addressed the fact that after the FAKE NEWS of "CHemical Attack" that people from the Left and Right wanted to attack Assad over this now acknowledged FALSE report.

And it show how folks called people "Conspiracy Theorist" who were "siding with Assad" for simply questioning the very idea that Assad made a "chemical attack".

LYNCH MOB reaction to false reports,
for some it was just the kind of excuse needed... true or false "Assad must Go"... just ride it.


http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/new...war-syria.html

[cnredd]

Just three days after the attack, the same Riam Dalat said it was staged...and that it happens so much, that he's "sick & tired" of it...

BBC journalist deletes tweet about "staged" scenes in Syria

Riam Dalati, a BBC journalist, took to Twitter to express suspicion about an alleged chemical attack in Syria. Dalati wrote that he was tired of "scenes" in Syria that were "staged" for Western consumption.

"Sick and tired of activists and rebels using corpses of dead children to stage emotive scenes for Western consumption. Then they wonder why some serious journos are questioning part of the narrative," he had tweeted.

However, the BBC Foreign News Producer deleted his tweet later. Dalati clarified that his tweet was deleted as it was in breach of editorial policy. He also stated that the tweet did not give context to the pictures attached.

Notice he doesn't say WHO did the investigation?...Was it him?...Someone who already made his conclusion just after the attack????...

I have no idea the what the details are or whether there was anything staged...

...But I DO know that this guy would be the least credible person to say so, and his story does nothing but recommit those who have already had their minds made up...

[mr wonder]

Originally Posted by cnredd

Just three days after the attack, the same Riam Dalat said it was staged...and that it happens so much, that he's "sick & tired" of it...

BBC journalist deletes tweet about "staged" scenes in Syria

Notice he doesn't say WHO did the investigation?...Was it him?...Someone who already made his conclusion just after the attack????...

I have no idea the what the details are or whether there was anything staged...

...But I DO know that this guy would be the least credible person to say so, and his story does nothing but recommit those who have already had their minds made up...

here's the thing with any reporting ... BBC, FOX, Blogger, white hat, "special council" or Official military spokes person.

They need to produce the evidence. In the case of Duomas, there have been more than one reporter that's interviewed doctors and family members on the scene as well as official inspectors at the site. and there's no evidence of a "chemical attack".
But you're right, If people are "confirmed" in their beliefs DESPITE any evidence then there's not much anyone can say to them to convince them otherwise.

Just like WMDs in Iraq.
Rumsfelid said they were "around Tricriq, north south and west".
Powell said there were "mobile units" with Anthrax.
Bush and Rice mentioned "mushroom clouds", therefore implying Saddam had nukes!

NONE of that crap was found... and Bush and others finally admitted that they were never there. That they were wrong. (liars, the facts say)
But some STILL insist that Iraq was justified on the basis of the Bush admin reports (lies/mistakes) about WMDs. Or try and pretend that ANY small collection of old spent degraded circa 1989 weapons canisters found "PROVES" there were still the "TONS" of WMDs just like they said .

So yes when people want to see something they do often see it no matter what. Or if they don't want to see it.

[mr wonder]

From reports of the time...

Thursday April 12 2018, Mattis speaking on April 2018 alleged "chemical attack"
u.s. Defense secretary Jim Mattis has said he believes there was a chemical weapons attack in Syria last Saturday, but admits the u.s. Government is still "looking for the actual evidence" to support the claim.
"i believe there was a chemical attack and we are looking for the actual evidence,” Mattis said to Washington lawmakers, adding that he is trying to send inspectors to Syria "probably within the week."
the u.s. Military official claims it will become "more difficult" to obtain evidence to back up the claims that are being used to justify escalations towards war with Syria. "as each day goes by – as you know, it is a non-persistent gas – so it becomes more and more difficult to confirm it."...


Feb. 2, 2018, Mattis Speaking on the 2017 supposed Assad Chemical attack "on his own people"
By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has no evidence to confirm reports from aid groups and others that the Syrian government has used the deadly chemical sarin on its citizens, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday.
"We have other reports from the battlefield from people who claim it's been used," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon. "We do not have evidence of it."

No hard evidence of Russian Collusion in the elections and NO hard evidence of Assad preforming a chemical attack.
Seem to me folks shouldn't ASSUME otherwise.

Reviewing Ground Reports
Examining Ground Reports From Syria
Examining Ground Reports From Syria

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...eapons-victims

https://www.independent.co.uk/author/robert-fisk

http://www.investmentwatchblog.com/b...emical-attack/

BREAKING: British journalist who visited Douma, Syria today says there was NO chemical attack
We have just spoken to Robert Fisk (Foreign correspondent with the UK Independent) in Douma, at 13.00 today, who says he is the 1st journalist to visit the clinic where the “alleged” chemical attack took place. He went alone ie. not accompanied by military to see for himself. Everything is operating as per normal in a hospital. He confirms the following:

1. The footage is authentic – he could recognise the location
2. He spoke to doctors there who said that children were admitted coughing and spluttering
3. They were admitted AS A RESULT OF NEARBY SHELLING and DUST FUMES!
4. Someone created panic by shouting “gas, gas, gas” and they began following procedure as they would in a gas attack by hosing them down.
5. THERE WAS NO CHLORINE GAS ATTACK
...

...On Monday, April 16, several journalists gained access to Douma and interviewed residents in the area. One of these journalists was Robert Fisk, two-time winner of the British Press Awards’ Journalist of the Year prize and a seven-time winner of the British Press Awards’ Foreign Correspondent of the Year. Fisk is a longtime foreign correspondent who the New York Times referred to as “probably the most famous foreign correspondent in Britain” and The Guardian called “one of the most famous journalists in the world.”

Writing for The Independent, Fisk described the situation in Douma:

This is the story of a town called Douma, a ravaged, stinking place of smashed apartment blocks–and of an underground clinic whose images of suffering allowed three of the Western world’s most powerful nations to bomb Syria last week. There’s even a friendly doctor in a green coat who, when I track him down in the very same clinic, cheerfully tells me that the “gas” videotape which horrified the world– despite all the doubters–is perfectly genuine.

War stories, however, have a habit of growing darker. For the same 58-year old senior Syrian doctor then adds something profoundly uncomfortable: the patients, he says, were overcome not by gas but by oxygen starvation in the rubbish-filled tunnels and basements in which they lived, on a night of wind and heavy shelling that stirred up a dust storm.

According to the doctor Fisk spoke with, Dr. Assim Rahaibani, the international organization commonly known as The White Helmets had a role in carrying out the false or exaggerated scene depicting a chemical gas attack.

I was with my family in the basement of my home three hundred metres from here on the night but all the doctors know what happened. There was a lot of shelling [by government forces] and aircraft were always over Douma at night–but on this night, there was wind and huge dust clouds began to come into the basements and cellars where people lived. People began to arrive here suffering from hypoxia, oxygen loss. Then someone at the door, a “White Helmet”, shouted “Gas!”, and a panic began. People started throwing water over each other. Yes, the video was filmed here, it is genuine, but what you see are people suffering from hypoxia–not gas poisoning.

At the same time that Fisk was interviewing the doctor and residents, Pearson Sharp of One America News stated he interviewed between 30 to 40 residents of Douma. As with Fisk, Sharp says he found no evidence of chemical attack and the residents he spoke with seemed completely unaware of the apparent incident....
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...eapons-victims

From the official investigation report of the OPCW

S/1645/2018
page 8 ....
FACTUAL FINDINGS
Alleged sites
8.1The sites visited during the FFM deployment included the hospital where victims were allegedly treated for chemical exposure (Location 1), the residential block with the cylinder on the balcony (Location 2), and
the apartment with the cylinder lying on a bed (Location 4). Location 3 was initially considered a site of interest but was discarded on the basis of subsequent information. Two other locations, a facility and a
warehouse, were visited to gather information to assess any possible connection with the manufacture of chemical weapons.
....
Location 1 (hospital)
8.15
The FFM team visited Location 1 (N 33° 34’ 27.3”, E 36° 24’ 25”) on 1 May 2018.
The hospital operates in the basements of two multistorey buildings connected by an underground tunnel. The FFM team was guided through the hospital, including underground access tunnels, and took environmental samples and held discussions with medical personnel.
....
The results of the analysis of the prioritised samples submitted to OPCW designated laboratories were received by the FFM team on 22 May 2018. No organophosphorus nerve agents or their degradation products were detected, either in the environmental samples or in plasma samples from the alleged casualties. Various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from Locations 2 and 4, (not the hospital) along with residues of explosive. These results are reported in Annex 3. (nothing that violated the chemical weapons convention 'CWC' found) Work by the team to establish the significance of these results is ongoing.
https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/f...45-2018_e_.pdf

based on the above reports, the BBC writers 6-month investigation that comes to the same conclusion seems credible.

[saltwn]

My worry about going down this road is Alex Jones' pushing that Sandy Hook was staged. Consequently the parents not only put up with the life changing loss of a child but harassment and death threats due to someone wanting to sell soap.

ANother question I have is why have so many Syrians sought refuge around the world if these things did not take place?

[mr wonder]

Originally Posted by saltwn

My worry about going down this road is Alex Jones' pushing that Sandy Hook was staged. Consequently the parents not only put up with the life changing loss of a child but harassment and death threats due to someone wanting to sell soap.

But the only road here is about a supposed Chemical weapons attack in Syria.
Alex jones and sandy hook have nothing to do with the evidence here.
It's either true or false.
being worry about "where it might go" isn't really an issue.

"what are the facts." Each case stand on it's own.... or not.

If it makes us think of anything we should think "Gulf of Tonkin", the false story about "incubator babies" of Gulf War 1 and the German staged "Gleiwitz incident" that Hitler used to get into war with Poland. All incidents where lying propaganda used to shepard nations into conflict.

Originally Posted by saltwn

ANother question I have is why have so many Syrians sought refuge around the world if these things did not take place?

the report here is about ONE supposed incident, not all events of the war.
Syrians, like many people, will flee any war zone. No need for chemical weapons to be in the mix. Conventional war is horrific enough. Not to mention rebels forcing people into islam and beheading people and the like.

[saltwn]

Originally Posted by mr wonder

But the only road here is about a supposed Chemical weapons attack in Syria.
Alex jones and sandy hook have nothing to do with the evidence here.
It's either true or false.
being worry about "where it might go" isn't really an issue.

"what are the facts." Each case stand on it's own.... or not.

If it makes us think of anything we should think "Gulf of Tonkin", the false story about "incubator babies" of Gulf War 1 and the German staged "Gleiwitz incident" that Hitler used to get into war with Poland. All incidents where lying propaganda used to shepard nations into conflict.


the report here is about ONE supposed incident, not all events of the war.
Syrians, like many people, will flee any war zone. No need for chemical weapons to be in the mix. Conventional war is horrific enough. Not to mention rebels forcing people into islam and beheading people and the like.

well we are pulling outta there anyway. maybe a survey of refugees would tell a more complete story