# Al Jazeera reports chemical weapons attack in Syria **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2012, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-jazeera-reports-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/645002 "2012-12-24T12:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-jazeera-reports-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/645002/1 "2012-12-24T12:06:13Z")
I first heard report on BBC radio which they were calling unconfirmed. A witness on scene reported 7 dead and 65 injured (12 critically) from the attack in Homs. [Al Jazeera has a report](http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/poisonous-gas-sprayed-homs-leaves-seven-people-dead-and-scores-affected-activists-say) posted with videos from a field clinic. They report seven dead at this time. If confirmed this crosses the so called “[red line](http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-08-21/world/35492894_1_chemical-weapons-syrian-stockpiles-assad)” that Obama referred to back in August. Definitely not mundane or pointless. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-jazeera-reports-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/645002/2 "2012-12-24T12:12:34Z")
I think it’s fucking stupid that we have such a dumb red line anyway. If they really did use chemical attacks, I seriously, SERIOUSLY doubt we are going to get involved. The US just doesn’t have a stomach for another war. Personally, I wish we would go in and wipe out the fucking prick. But the idea that we won’t get militarily involved unless/until he uses chemical weapons to kill his people is just stupid. Bullets and gunpowder are made of chemicals too. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-jazeera-reports-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/645002/3 "2012-12-24T12:17:05Z")
The BBC radio report noted similarities to the effects of Agent 15, a compound similar to (o possibly identical to) [BZ gas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-Quinuclidinyl_benzilate). [Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/assad-reportedly-using-chemical-weapons-homs-syria-rebels-2012-12) quotes a [tweet](https://twitter.com/ChechenCenter) from [The Chechen Center](http://chechencenter.info/n/42-world/1959-did-assad-start-to-use-chemical-weapon-poisonous-gas-killed-7-injured-many.html), a self-described “pro-Russian newspaper” claiming “most reports seem to indicate chlorine attacks simil [sic] to those [in Iraq '07](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_bombings_in_Iraq).” Link to the '07 chlorine attack is mine. Not in original tweet. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-jazeera-reports-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/645002/4 "2012-12-24T12:23:22Z")
Well I guess at the end of the day, if it gets a coalition (not just the US) involved in saving that Syrian bastard from slaughtering more of his own people, I’ll be glad. But I wish we didn’t have to wait for some magic red line to be crossed in the first place. And I _really_ don’t want the US to be the only country agreeing to go to war with Syria to boot out the potentate. I hope we aren’t even the principal force, really. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-jazeera-reports-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria/645002/5 "2012-12-24T12:23:55Z")
[Daily Kos](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/23/1173365/-BREAKING-Chemical-weapons-use-reported-in-Syria) is quoting Al Jazeera’s report and links to video with English subtitles added. I don’t speak Arabic and cannot vouch for the accuracy of the translation.