28 March, 2024

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‘Chemical Attack’ In Syria & America’s Continued Military Campaign 

By Laksiri Fernando

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

The images emerged from Khan Sheikhoun in Syria and some unconfirmed reports indicate to possible chemical weapon use or sarin gas disposal in the alleged attacks on 4 April in the rebel held area in Idlib, North Western Syria. The images were most gruesome, babies and young children dying suffocated and in immense pain and suffering. The death toll is counted as 87 altogether. This was among hundreds and thousands of people who have died in this gruesome war in the Middle East. The images were similar to what have been emerging from the drought stricken Somalia and elsewhere in Africa where children were dying of hunger and sickness. There were no obviously direct ‘attacks or responsibilities’ other than the drought. The death toll however was counted in hundreds or even thousands throughout years without any national or international solution.

War and hunger due to poverty are two scourges that haunts the present world otherwise boasted about globalization, neo-liberalism and innovative technology. One advantage of technology however is the difficulty of the powers that be to hide the facts for too long although information is still distorted or presented in biased manner.

Suspects and Accusations

Bashar al-Assad and his brutal regime in Syria are the natural suspects for the recent chemical attack. Admittedly the regime indulged in such attacks in 2013 and even after agreeing for independent international monitoring and investigation, there are three reported cases of some chemical use in the ongoing civil war. Therefore, the Syrian regime can be the first suspect.

However, the opposition groups are not innocent spectators. The former Australian PM, Tony Abbot, once characterized the civil war as a ‘war between baddies and baddies.’ Apart from Russia supporting the Assad regime, quite openly, there are several opposition groups directly and indirectly supported by America and several Western countries or their affiliates. They only have an agreement (yet unclear) to fight against the ISIS. The Army of Conquest that controls the Idlib area is supported by Saudi Arabia. There is no secret about it. Like the Assad regime, Saudi Arabia is also playing a brutal role in the Syrian civil war.

In the above context, the American President, Donald Trump’s reaction to the Shekhoun chemical attack cannot be considered completely humanitarian or guided by his conscience alone. Even if he had firm information that the attack was conducted by Assad’s orders, which is overwhelmingly doubtful, he should not have ordered immediate missile strikes, without going before the UN Security Council first, which could have been called within hours. His excuse can be similar to America launching the Iraq war on the claim that Saddam Hussein was holding weapons of mass destruction (WMD). 

What is the point in having the Security Council, if a super power, however powerful it is, could take unilateral decisions on matters that do not directly affect its own security?

If Assad has attacked America, it is completely a different story. The timing of his missile strike is also politically significant. It was during the ever important visit of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping to America and having dinner with the President himself. It was a symbol of coercion. Although it was reported that the President Jinping expressed that he understands the situation, that is a Chinese or an Asian way of biting the bullet.

Now America has dropped a GBU-43 bomb in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border in the Nangarhar province, quite unrelated to any of the incidents and only to show its military might. This is considered ‘the mother of all bombs’ only second to a nuclear bomb. Still the civilian casualties are not known. It is speculated that symbolic message this time is against North Korea or even China.

President Bashar al-Assad has personally denied any chemical weapon use in Sheikhoun at a AFP interview, claiming it could be a 100 percent fabrication. His view cannot easily be ignored, although he can be the first accused. When the Western powers (America, UK, France) moved a resolution in the Security Council on the issue, even after a missile punishment, purpose was to denounce the alleged chemical use and not to independently investigate the alleged incident. This is the kind of international justice that is emerging in the new Trump era.

Policy Summersaults    

In the whole drama, the most intriguing is President Trump’s policy summersaults. It is still continuing. Given his stout character and his past, it is difficult to imagine that he is so fond of other people’s babies, although he is a family man. He never expressed such emotions for dying babies and children in Africa. He didn’t have compassion for children and those who flee the countries in conflict to save their lives when he banned travel from those countries including Syria. He has said that he can change. Is he going to change the travel ban is the question now, if he is so compassionate of other people? Otherwise, his expressed sentiments appear crocodile tears.

There are so many aspects to his about turn. During his election campaign, he mercilessly criticised his predecessor, Barack Obama, for his involvement in the Syrian conflict. He almost approved Assad’s regime and declared a policy of non-involvement, except fighting against the ISIS and radical Islam. A regime change was not within his policy orbit. More generally, he distanced himself from neo-liberal policy of ‘nation building’ in other countries.

Trump first appeared focusing inwardly on economic matters and wanting to build America First, at least before becoming the world’s policemen perhaps later. Now his priorities have changed. Now he wants to be the policeman first and the businessmen next. Or is there a hidden connection between the two, even unknown to him before? It is possible. He has almost forgotten about building the Mexican Wall now! It is possible that the American military establishment is overtaking him. 

A Possible Saudi Connection?

It is well known that America’s military spending is exorbitant. America spends around 600 billion dollars annually, nearly 35 percent of the total military expenditure in the world. It is almost ‘overstretched.’ That is a recipe for a ‘fall of a great power’ according to Paul Kennedy (Rise and Fall of Great Powers). When Trump assumed duties, he complained about American contributions to even NATO and called the outfit ‘obsolete.’ He also asked his allies in Japan and South Korea to be self-reliant. Now he is mincing his words. There can be a secret behind this summersault. There can be someone financing or promising to finance his military budget, at least partially. After all, he is a businessman notorious for dubious business deals.

The second largest spender on military is China. But it is only around 215 billion dollars and more importantly, less than 2 percent of its GDP. Russia is the fourth, spending only 66 billion. These are 2016 figures. Who comes the third is Saudi Arabia spending around 87 billion, but it is the highest compared to its GDP (13 percent). Its capacity and indirect spending are more and there can be a connection between Trump’s about turn in Syria and Saudi Arabia’s military and political ambitions in the region. 

Most intriguing about Trump’s volte-farce is the dumping of Vladimir Putin. There were accusations during the election campaign that Trump was aided by Putin or Russia through cyber-attacks and election manipulation. Whether true or not, Trump had occasion to openly praise Putin. Then why is he unceremoniously dumped? The only rational reason that could be given is that perhaps Putin was taking an unnecessary upper hand, after lending some support to Trump, and Trump is now reacting to this situation. However, that is not a reason to attack Syria. All these characters are not reliable, whether it is Trump, Assad, Putin or Kim Jung-un. They appear to be ‘gang or mafia leaders’ operating in dubious circles.

As many have argued, while the chemical attack is a war crime, a missile attack on a sovereign country is equally a violation of international law. Unfortunately, international law currently is overwhelmingly manipulated by theses gangs for their own power purposes. 

Afghan Bombing and Beyond   

Now Trump is turning his guns in other directions. It is reported that the symbolic threat of the GBU-43 bomb dropped in Afghanistan is North Korea and/or even China.  This view is also similar to what is expressed by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai who immediately denounced the bombing as ‘experimenting of American arsenal in other people’s territories.’ The 59 tomahawk droppings in Syria also could be such an experimentation. Karzai has been a consistent ally of democratic Western efforts in fighting against Taliban and Islamic fundamentalism. He is reliable in his statement and expressed outrage.

What is now emerging after Trump’s ascendency is more of a fascist or an authoritarian type of reactions against all enemies, real and imagined. It is perhaps not by accident that Trump’s Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, whitewashed Adolf Hitler by saying that even Hitler didn’t use chemical weapons against his people. But the fact of the matter is that thousands and thousands of people died in gas chambers under Hitler. Although Spicer has retracted his statement under protest later, that is the type of thinking visible among Trump’s team. It is also noteworthy to mention that the use of Atomic Bombs came from America in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, even at the verge of Japanese surrender quite unnecessarily, rather as an experimentation.

During the election campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly accused China as a currency manipulator, right or wrong. He also clearly expressed misgivings about China’s economic ascendency even threatening to impose unprecedented 45 percent tariff for Chinese goods. That is the type of ‘free trade’ and ‘neo-liberalism’ that he is following. Here, there is a clear economic competition or jealousy. Perhaps military action might be more effective, in his present thinking, than economic measures. Trump might not attack China directly, but pre-emptive strike against North Korea is all possible. What might prove finally is John Pilger’s prophecy ‘The Coming War on China’ (a documentary). He has also expressed these views in the New Internationalist.

North Korea is planning to celebrate its founder, Kim Il-Sung’s 105th birth anniversary (Day of the Sun) from the 15th April for a week. All these are truly farcical. However, there are no instant solutions to change the situations in countries like North Korea or Syria. There is a possibility that North Korea also stage a nuclear experiment during these celebrations. If America’s rumoured intended pre-emptive strike is reliable, even there is no need for a nuclear experiment on the part of North Korea, to strike. This is the danger. Trump can call North Korea and/or Kim Jong-un ‘Evil,’ ‘butcher/s,’ ‘animal/s’ or any other name, and strike on the self-claimed God’s given mandate. Obviously, Trump is a Christian fundamentalist. There is no much difference between Islamic fundamentalism and any other religious/ideological fundamentalism.

In my ‘humble’ opinion, either Donald Trump is mad or he is a ‘new fascist’ who has manged to come to power, in still a democratic country. There is no much difference between people like Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. What might be necessary urgently is a strong anti-war movement in all countries to unite people and work towards disarmament and peace in the world. China has proposed negotiations and peaceful resolution to the situation in the impending catastrophe in the Korean peninsula. I hope China would call an immediate session of the Security Council to possibly avert an emerging disaster.  

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Latest comments

  • 2
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    Every action has a reaction. As long as fundamentlist activity is taken to its extremes, just at the whim of its leaders and his existence, world police
    action (US style) is a compulsory act for the survial of the majority. This
    is realty.

    • 6
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      Sri Lankan MR’s Govt. used Chemical weapons supplied by Pakistan and China during the final phase of war at Mullivaikkal in May of 2009 and none condemned such acts of Genocide. Over 75,000 innocent Tamil civilians perished according to UN sources.

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        Joe dear,
        I know that Tamil nationalists are rather weak in arithmetic and matters needing precision.
        But the swing of the number killed in Mullivaikal (not the total) from 20,000 to 75,000 (or more at times) according to Tamil sources is amazing.
        Is it a natural growth of dead population?

        There was opportunity for Tamil political organizations to conduct a survey of orphans and widows alone to arrive at a figure of the war dead with could at worst in 10% error. It never happened.
        The tendency is to go for the biggest bid.

        May I know what chemical weapons were supplied by China and what by Pakistan
        The only story (unconfirmed) on chemical weapons I heard was about the use of white phosphorus against LTTE fighters who were regrouping far from Mullivaikkal.
        It was also said that Indians were in the region at the time. They may give you fuller data (including their contribution).

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          OHoooooooSJ dear,

          What is your purpose of asking proof from news media reader?

          Did you ask the same question from UNSG panel chairman Marzuki Darusman to prove their number to be 40,000?

          Do you understand Joe Dear need not prove his numbers. But Yahapalanaya has an obligation to disprove UNSC’s experpaneel 40,000 number.

          Can you ask Yahapalanaya to come forward and do it?

          • 0
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            “Can you ask Yahapalanaya to come forward and do it ?”

            They came, promising that and much more

            So far, the promises were loudest in the making, not in the keeping

            If I were you, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it to happen

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          You are saying that phosphorous was used against LTTE fighters who were regrouping far from Mulliwaikal. Use of chemical weapons on any one even the enemy is banned. To say that phosphorous was used only on LTTE and not on civilians is far from the truth. Several people who suffered from chemical injury were executed by the army and prevented from crossing to safer areas, to cover up the crime. Did you hear that Sandya Ekneligoda was felicitated in the USA for bravery, whose husband was abducted and killed for the only crime of exposing the purchase of chemical weapons. Please stop trying to cover up crime. Allow full investigations with access to documents regarding imports of these weapons as well as to do soil samples to unearth poisons used in the last stages of war.

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            Why didn’t the US wait until facts were found on who allegedly used chemical weapons in Syria? ONLY the US wanted to rush to war to show its new Trump sized Penis power to the world. There was no need to do it except to send a message that US Was back in charge and it did not need fact or proof to react or preemptively act. By the way the US used White Phosporous in Falluja. It also used and uses Cluster Bombs and has not signed the cluster bomb ban.

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          “The only story (unconfirmed) on chemical weapons I heard was about the use of white phosphorus against LTTE fighters who were regrouping far from Mullivaikkal. “

          All Tamils are LTTE for the Sinhala Govt.

          so thanks for confirming that chemical weapons were indeed used against inverted comma LTTE ie against Tamils

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          Dear SJ,

          I think you have to study Chemistry. White Phosphorus is a chemical.

          It causes skin to melt away from the bone and can break down a victim’s jawbone, but white phosphorus – known in Vietnam as Willie Pete – is still used by sections of the world’s military.
          Similar to Napalm, the chemical substance is used in shells and grenades, igniting spontaneously at around 30C to produce an intense heat and thick pillars of smoke.
          Weapons experts warn that when used as an incendiary, it can result in painful chemical burns – injuries which can often prove fatal.
          Further problems are caused because the substance can stick to clothing or on the skin and continues to burn unchecked as particles are exposed to air.
          Witness accounts of combat in Fallujah, where a significant civilian population were living, claim the injured affected by phosphorus suffered horrendous burns.
          It is feared there was widespread use of the weapon, not just to target LTTE positions but in raids on houses and buildings. Tamil civilian been ordered to gather at Mullivaikkal and the final solution was ordered by Gotha & Mara. A Genocide carried out by ordering all NGO’s to leave the area.

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            Joe, Malli, Rajash and GS
            Thanks for your effort to educate me on things that I already know— but thanks all the same.

            The point that I made is that the Tamil nationalists must get their act together and get their data right so that they at least look credible.
            I did not demand proof. I called for serious study (think before talk).

            No chemical was named and it was I who mentioned the charge about white phosphorous (yet unproven). There has been no follow up by those who made that charge.

            if “it is feared there was widespread use of the weapon, not just to target LTTE positions but in raids on houses and buildings” then there should be sufficient evidence by now. Where is it?
            Anyone can fear that something bad happened, but such fear establishes nothing.
            Bad arithmetic often goes hand in hand with bad logic.

            Do some serious research if you can.
            Pulling numbers out of a hat and hitting out at at all and sundry while avoiding some of the true foreign villains will not help, except to destroy even the credible evidence one has.

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              I did not demand proof. I called for serious study (think before talk).

              Thanks SJ Dear,

              -for the reminder.

              They will take care as long as you don’t disturb them with your foul logics.

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              Dear SJ,
              Please reveal you identity if you are brave. I was a medico-legal officer in the war zone in the early stages of war and therefore a medical witness to the atrocities committed by security forces on non combatant Tamils and their properties.

              You are asking for evidence of indiscriminate destruction of houses and buildings. In 1984 after war was declared officially with the appointment of late Mr. Athulathmudali as minister of national security atrocities became wide spread and institutional.

              First indiscriminate mortar fire was done from ships anchored off shore mainly to coastal areas from Point Pedro, through Valvettithurai to Thondamanaru. Then trunks of palmyrah trees were dropped from helicopters on the houses. Next barrel bombs were droped from helicopters on houses and buildings. Remember that a plane carrying these barrel bombs from Colombo to Jaffna to be dropped exploded in mid-air over Elephant Pass. In 1985 indiscriminate artillery shelling from army camp began. Remember one fell on VD Clinic of Jaffna Hospital, and the whole episode was hushed by Alles Commission. Finally aerial attack from Kifir planes took place. remember the killing of refugees in Navali church and orphans in Chencholai school.

              Branding anyone coming out with he truth as nationalists or terrorists, is the common ploy of Sinhala racists to suppress freedom of expression and cover up the crimes committed. Please let us have an independent inquiry to arrive at the truth.

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                Dr GS
                Calm down! Will the weight of my comments alter if I declare my name?

                Every other *.*.*. here knows my identity.

                Why don’t you make the demand of ones who indulge in personal remarks and abusive language?

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              “”I did not demand proof. I called for serious study (think before talk).””
              So you are happy like the sinhal buddhist mudalalis to waffel waffel burp burp then at parliament belch and fart. why don’t you drown yourself at menik ganga when there is water- Samsara Samsara!

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          SJ

          “I know that Tamil nationalists are rather weak in arithmetic and matters needing precision.”

          Now read what the minister said about the numbers:

          89,000 War Widows
          2010-09-29

          Some 89,000 females in North and East have become widows due to war, Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs said today.

          Deputy Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs, M.L.A.M Hizbullah, stated that there are 49,000 widowers in the East while 40,000 in the North.

          “About 25,000 are from Batticaloa, of which 12,000 are below age 40 and about 8000 of them have minimum three children, but none of them have any form of income,” he said.

          Deputy Minister explained that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had entered into an agreement that the Indian Government to conduct programs on self employment. (MB)

          dailymirror.lk/6838/89000-war-widows

          SJ

          I think you need some help from our great mathematicians, Wimal Sangili Karuppan Weerawansa (mathematically cleverer than Ramanujam), GL Pieris (who believes abstention on voting at UNHRC should be added to whichever side he is with), ….. Ranawaka Arachchige Patali Champika Ranawaka (whose ancestors invented Zero) in order to extrapolate the number of people who were killed during and at the end of war.

          The constantly floated Government’s own figure was 95,000 “young widows”. Obviously the war death were more than 95,000 adding others or other kith and kin.

          The Tamil as well other (JVP) MPs were banned from entering Vanni for about 21/2 years.

          Please give us a guesstimate after consulting WW, GL P, RAPC R.

        • 0
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          US used White Phosporous in Falluja. It does not need proof and UN Investigations to assert its power. It will do the same if you Donkies do not abide.

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          GOVT. OF HAIT COMMENDS RANAVIRU FOR THEIR GOOD DEEDS
          The Haitian girl known Victim No 1 was 12 when she first had sex with a Sri Lankan peacekeeper. She says she didn’t even have breasts yet.
          The boy, known as Victim No 9, was 15 when his ordeal began. Over the course of three years, he said he had sex with more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers, averaging about four a day.
          From 2004 to 2007, nine Haitian children were exploited by a child sex ring involving at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers, according to an internal UN report obtained by The Associated Press.
          Often the children were given cookies or a few dollars in exchange for sex. Although 114 of the peacekeepers were sent home, none was ever jailed for the abuse.
          SHAME! SHAME! This is what you did to the Tamil Girls during the final war in May 2009 now you did this in HAITI.

        • 1
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          weak in arithmetic which is why sinHELLese needed affirmative action to compete against them in university! Not only since 70s but during the British rule your race was responsible for removing arithmetic from General Clerical Service examination as a compulsory subject since “the well-known aptitude of the Tamils for mathematics was thought to give them an advantage in it over their competitors of other races.” (see the Soulbury Commissions Report) SinHELLese haven’t made any contribution to mathematics unlike world renowned Tamil mathematicians like Ramanujan. Tamils dominated colonial administration due to intellectual superiority which is why envious sinhalese used their majority status to squeeze out Tamils from these fields through discriminatory policies. Sinhellese cannot compete fairly which is why Tamil businesses were systematically looted and destroyed to maintain sinhala monopoly. This was the case in the battlefield too where they needed the help of superpowers like China, India, U.S to defeat outnumbered and outpowered Tamils after three decades of getting ass kicked.

          70,000 figure is a conservative estimate of NON-TAMIL sources of the UN, but in the paranoid world of the sinHELLese, everything other than what their genocidal regime spews is Tiger propaganda. Bunch of deluded killers.

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            Sinhalese defeated you in battle… refer to the picture of the Great Leader, on a stretcher, with some of the brain matter missing. Your friends in Nadu did not come to the rescue, why? We can compete fairly, the only advantage (in former days) was that some Tamils could speak English better. Anyway, like I said, the battle is over now… 30 years of cyanide capsules and backside bombs down the drain. The majority will assert its rights now, just like in other countries. Whining to the UN and USA about “war crimes” in 2009 will not help your cause.

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              If China, India, U.S, etc didn’t hold your hands, your incompetent forces would continue raping children like they did in Haiti because they are the only targets your war heroes can show their bravery to. The Tigers were better motivated and disciplined who fought for pride and freedom while your band of sexual predators were fighting for money and women to rape (as that’s the only way they can ever get laid), which is why they had high desertion rate. Even with all the international backing and superior firepower, your forces were outsmarted by the Tigers who managed to establish a de facto state in large parts of Tamil territory. This is after fighting the IPKF and rival Tamil militants. Your forces are nothing compared to the innovative ingenious of the Tigers, the first group of its kind of possess air and sea forces. Just refer to Balraj’s epic capture of Elephant Pass with just few lightly-armed cadres against thousands of sinHELLese troops backed by artillery, tanks and airpower.

              Yes, Tamil Nadu didn’t intervene because it was handicapped by the Hindian centre. If it was its own state with its own military and with the combined force of the LTTE, your nation would have been obliterated. Your ‘victory’ is a cheap one and you have your Chinese masters to thank, which you’re doing by selling out your country.

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                “Your forces are nothing compared to the innovative ingenious of the Tigers”

                Yes, cyanide capsule, backside bomb, and extorting the diaspora for cash were innovative techniques in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The problem is, your innovation ended there, while the Sri Lankan Armed Forces eventually got their hands on the latest and greatest of weapons after 2000. Once Mahinda chose not to abide by Geneva Conventions, it was game over for the Tiger terrorists. Since they could no longer hide behind civilians, as civilians were also fair targets. India was blocking off the escape routes to Nadu, so where to go? Great Leader tried to hide in the mud at Nanthikadaal, but anyone can spot a pig in the water, even from outer space! It is unfortunate that civilians got caught in the way, but that is the reality of war. How many (Sinhalese) civilians were targeted in bus bombings, bank bombings, and train bombings? Just for the sake of Eelamist propaganda. Great Leader used many of them as human shields, no need to lie to the Westerners about Sinhalese “war crimes.”

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              Lester

              “Sinhalese defeated you in battle…”

              Don’t be silly.

              Gota and Mahinda told NDTV they could not have won the war without Hindia.

              It was VP with great support from Hindia won the war for Mahinda.

              Where did the Sinhalese acquire the taste for luxuries such belief as thinking the Sinhalese won the war?

              Go ask Gota.

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                Native Veddah and Sinhala Crimes Against Humanity:

                So by your logic, the USA should have won in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Since the USA has the best military, the best weapons, the best intelligence gathering mechanisms, etc. The reality is that the implementation (execution) is different from the planning. The Indians & Chinese may have provided the Sri Lankans with weapons and limited intelligence. How to use those weapons within the context of a viable battle plan – this was up to the Sri Lankans. Strategy and execution were the work of Gothabaya.

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                  [Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.

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                  @Lester You are fit to be a robot in gamaya Gothabaya museum.
                  Proof by analogy is fraud.C++

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                    If you think it’s “fraud” then explain why the US lost in Vietnam. Same jungles as Sri Lanka, same guerilla warfare. What about so-called war crimes? According to one website, “The U.S. military used Napalm-B extensively during the Vietnam War — up to 400,000 tons (362,874 metric tons).” Napalam B is a chemical agent that instantly burns anything it comes into contact with. This picture from the Vietnam War is very famous: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/06/01/article-0-136433DA000005DC-963_634x406.jpg. The girl is on fire, the result of a napalm bomb. Of course, napalm is nothing compared to the two atom bombs dropped on Japan.

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                      Why don’t you study the Vietnam war before comparing apples and oranges? It was a proxy war fought between the Communist bloc and the U.S and its allies. The North Vietnamese were not some ragtag guerrillas but also had conventional military backed by the mighty Soviet superpower and China who provided arms. The Americans were fighting an unpopular war and were the minority in Vietnam, a foreign land in the opposite part of the world whose jungles were mastered by its native Vietnamese guerrillas.
                      The Tigers as they progressed into a conventional military acquiring territories depended less on their former guerrilla tactics, became less mobile and focused more on defending their territory via conventional might which was no match for the Sri Lankan state backed by superpowers who provided $1 billion of military and financial aid annually and helped to destroy the LTTE’s floating armories.

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        J de V

        Added to this figure of 75,000 innocent Tamil civilians think of 40,000 LTTE cadre, 26,000 Government forces, 71,000 innocent Muslims and 83,000 Sinhala peasants in bordering villages making a total of 295,000 and hundreds of thousands unaccounted. Tamil racists are threatening another war if their demands are not given!

        Soma

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          somaaassss

          While speaking of numbers could you give me a guesstimate of your ardent supporters, the Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto builders who can be persuaded, or forced to relocate to the 10 Square miles in the deep deep south.

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            By the way NV some donkeys here are talking about ‘proof’. Is proof necessary?

            Soma

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              Proof is only necessary when NV is spinning a particularly convoluted piece..

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                maalumiris

                Wish you a happy new year.

                I noticed a number of news papers wishing Sinhalese and Tamils a happy Sinhala Hindu new year.

                Perhaps next year they may be planning to wish them a happy Buddhists Tamil new year.

                “Proof is only necessary when NV is spinning a particularly convoluted piece..”

                Please duck and dive before the ball hits you in the wrong place.

                Soma wants to convert the entire island into a Sinhala/Buddhist racist regressive illiberal ghetto while I am trying to confine its area to 10 square miles.

                You are free to chose between us and them.

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                  ” I am trying to confine its area to 10 square miles.

                  TIME UNTIL TRUMP LEAVES OFFICE: 1373 days
                  Nikki Haley is the classic weather cock like buffon Boris.

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              somaasss

              “By the way NV some donkeys here are talking about ‘proof’.”

              Did you mean maalumiris?

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        UN might have thought they would have to deal with less ‘boat people’ troubles maybe.

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      Prof Laksiri,
      Please write about use of chemical weapons in the last stages of war on Tamils by Srilanka for which there is ample evidence. Your foray into foreign areas ignoring and feigning ignorance of what happened in your land committed by your forces shows your duplicity. At least in Syria, they are open to public view, unlike in Srilanka where no observer was allowed into the area and all traces of atrocities removed.

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        Dr GS
        It will help Dr Laksiri very much if you reveal your evidence.
        He is not an anti-Tamil person to disregard that information.

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          He is anti Tamil person. He worked long with Old Royal. He did his best recently to disturb the constitution making by writing a book to support Joint Comedy club. EPDP also anti tamil organization. America many time published about their activities.

          Why is that you insist Dr. DS only has to submit the prove. Why can you bring the International investigation where anybody can submit the prove? Where in the world a lawyer of plaintiff of defence publicly post their proofs?

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          Hold an impartial inquiry with foreign judges. There are several people willing to give evidence. Also make available all documents about weapons brought into the country. Why is the government and Sinhalese frightened if they are innocent. Have you read the indictment by UN about the conduct of inquiry against sexual violence by Srilankan soldiers. Though 134 of them were reported, first the government said that they have only identified 04 of them committing these acts, and later under pressure said that only 18 of them committed sexual offences and the matter is closed. They have found that many of the accused are still in the military. This will be the result in war crimes also if Srilanka is allowed to prosecute their security forces, where all of them will walk free.

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          Dr GS
          You make big claims but fail to support the claims.

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            I suppose he will be able to support his claims at an Official Inquiry,
            and not in the form of comments in CT?

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        DUMB. Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam

        If used it is was OK because at that time there was NO UN legislation banning the use of chemical weapons.

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    Trump utilized the opportunity for his political gains. At least pro-war segments of Americans now have confidence in Trump. Then, it is in America’s interest to get Syrian president ousted, but Trump as an inexperienced politician is bit obvious and faster.

    The ongoing Syrian war is USA’s strategy on affecting Russian economy that is largely depending on its status as world’s top natural gas exporter.

    How? By creating competition for Russian natural gas exports through USA’s puppets like Qatar (2nd largest gas exporter) and other few GCC states in the EU markets. But the issue is transporting these natural gas from these GCC countries to EU via sea is not going to make a big difference in prices, so EU will stick to Russian gas obviously.

    Having pipelines is the best solution to transport the gas at cheaper prices to EU, and Syria is the best location for that.

    Bashar Al Assad is not letting it happen. Obviously, Russia wants him, while the US wants him removed and its puppets taking over to achieve its goals.

    Obviously, USA, Qatar and other GCC puppets support rebels fighting against Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian prez. And Russia is protecting him.

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    Muslims killing Muslims.

    Now USA has dropped the most devastating MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS in Afghanistan. Only Muslims live in that area.

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      The USA is inviting terrorism to their land under the dumbest or anosognosia suffering president who is mercifully incompetent even to lead Somalia.

      It is a curse and a punishment for the US by the god and giving the opportunity to others mock at them.

      God Bless America!

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        Russia, ISIS & other Middle East Terrorist and North Korea did their best against Hillary during the election. So, once they receive their share of the election, America can return to its intelligent politics.

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          Absoltely, Mallaiyuran

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          USA is the guardian of the free world. If not for USA Colombo government’s genocide would have gone unnoticed.

          Show some gratefulness for a change will you.

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        Americans are not stupid like Europeans. Are you threatening them with terrorist attack by Muslim fanatics. Be warned that if these attacks escalate in USA, attack on Muslims will take place and the government will deport all the Muslims. So please do not put the lives and properties of law abiding Muslims by your rhetoric.

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          Al-faqurlah

          Dumb-fella, what is 9/11 then? And not just that, there is a list of attacks.

          And why do you think I am threatening when I only gave my views?

          With some people like you, I always feel that your eyes and kidneys could add values to themselves and the world, living on someone else :)

          No offense but just my way of thinking.

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    “The Syrian Air Force has destroyed a warehouse in Idlib province where chemical weapons were being produced and stockpiled before being shipped to Iraq, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman said.
    “The strike, which was launched midday Tuesday, targeted a major rebel ammunition depot east of the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.”
    This was as reported in Russia Today on 4th April.
    I am disappointed that the author did not take trouble to research.

    The charge that Syrian used poison gas bombs is yet another false flag (like the earlier lie about Syria using Sarin nerve gas an year ago with subsequent evidence pointing to Islamist allies of Saudi Arabia and the matter being dropped quietly).

    This time the US could not wait even for a preliminary inquiry.
    When US decides that Assad is a bad boy, the global media obliges and our intellectuals swallow it bait, sinker and hook.

    The US and allies lost the military battle to Syria and allies.
    The US in the process lost a key ally, Turkey, at least temporarily.
    Now it need ways to restart the conflict or at least punish Syria for winning.

    With or without Trump, the course taken by the US under Obama was to wage war against mankind, and that will go on. The US will never learn until it strikes disaster.

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      SJ,
      I can see you are a true-blue keeper of the anti-imperialist faith. Very few left nowadays.
      It is true that the global media manipulates the truth and forms our opinions about countries (US technology/ primitive Africa /intolerant Muslims /poverty-stricken India) Even the disasters in Iraq and Libya will not prevent them promoting “democracy” in other places.
      Well, neither RT or CNN (or even Sirasa)should be taken as the absolute truth. Every state has interests. You must remember Stalin did a deal with Hitler just as much as the US did a deal with Franco. Let’s wait a few years and see what leaks out.

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        OC
        If you still have faith in imperialism, I will not object.
        But too many lies have been told especially since 9/11 to justify imperialist attacks on ‘enemies’.

        Stalin made a deal with Hitler to buy time; and prepared to defend the USSR.
        What was the inducement for the lasting friendship with Franco? Gratitude for destroying the left-democratic alliance?

        Much has leaked on Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. The US & UK lied and lied and lied.
        Do we wait for more leaks before they destroy the world?

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          Dear SJ,
          No, I am not keeping faith in imperialism. Just that I have lost faith in all dogmas, whether they are from the Vatican, Karl Marx,Dr. DJ, Trump or whoever! Everybody lies and lies.

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            old codger

            SJ once hoped the weeping widow Siri Mao to defeat imperialism enforcing Indian ocean as Nuclear Free Zone as if her primary objective was to defeat imperialism.

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    The images emerged from Khan Sheikhoun in Syria and some unconfirmed reports indicate to possible chemical weapon use or sarin gas disposal in the alleged attacks on 4 April in the rebel held area in Idlib, North Western Syria. The images were most gruesome, babies and young children dying suffocated and in immense pain and suffering. The death toll is counted as 87 altogether. This was among hundreds and thousands of people who have died in this gruesome war in the Middle East. The images were similar to what have been emerging from the drought stricken Somalia and elsewhere in Africa where children were dying of hunger and sickness. There were no obviously direct ‘attacks or responsibilities’ other than the drought. The death toll however was counted in hundreds or even thousands throughout years without any national or international solution.

    An excellent account or description of what happened of the use of Chemical weapon in Syria.

    Is this a write up for recommending PhD Doctorate for Assad instead of his Medical Doctor?

    This type of description is not possible for Lankawe Old Royals’ use of Chemical weapons on Vanni Tamils who were kept without food or medicine for a year- transport restriction were there for decades even on egg or milk like nutrients. Wanni war was fought deporting UN employees to make it as war without witness. The murderer were awarded double doctorates. Sandhya was seens a traitor for the reason of her husband’s attempt to expose those chemical attacks. The suspicion is he was kept isolated alone for days and tortured before killed for his unpatriotic (or the real humanitarian) actions

    Yes we are really really good in writing or analysing international politics. But our law is ours has to left alone, hidden.

    What kind of morality Lankawe has to talk about others crimes? UN has said 116 was deported out 145 Rapist army who went to protect Haitian Children but was raping them in reality. Don’t they fight the Humanitarian Rescue Mission all over the world, not just in North? In some of those days Lankawe Radhika, who worked with Kornal Karuna, was UNESCO’s under secretary to protect Children.

    “Kooli thinda Kallanar Kooda nidu Thedurar.”(the thief who ate the chicken is one within the search party of the missing hen)

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    Here is a news piece, Nikki demanding the Lanakwe Sex Heros be investigated by their Smart Patriotic President, New King.

    U.S. Envoy Says U.N. Peacekeepers Must Be Punished for Sexual Abuse

    Read all about it and feel proud and Happy of it with other the New Year’s celebrations.

    http://time.com/4739564/un-peacekeeping-haiti-abuse-nikki-haley/

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    President Jinping expressed that he understands the situation, that is a Chinese or an Asian way of biting the bullet.

    China has two options. After acting like a good boy in Washington DC and go back to their country to play Aappa Diplomacy. China has been dodging last 8 years of Obama administration to use it power to control the rabid dog attitude of North Korea. If China had used it good offices that would have enabled Obama to resolve Korean Peninsula conflicts. These are some the weaknesses killed Hillary.

    The other one is,China use its ability to bring peace in Korea. If America attacks North Korea, then that is final day of Chinese influence in that area. South Korea, Japan and America will not allow North being a communist after that. Everybody show that in Germany. The most ardent supporter of Soviet Russia, the East Germany evaporated into thin air in one evening. China knows that. So only way to deal at this time is playing Aappa diplomacy. That is, the duplicity talk of Lankawe’s investigation of its war crime at UNHRC and and in colombo.

    Every time when there is female officer in a senior position in US administration, they really get boiled up by the Lankawe’s sextual smart patriotism and heroism, other than Condoleezza Rice. It was the case with Hillary, Samantha power, Susan Rice, Nisha Biswal…But Lankawe is refusing to investigate this beastial Rapsit army and still capable of sending them to go and rape in international countries. China can play this Yahapalanaya game with North Korea. But that is going to guide the world towards more tension.

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      When even american underwear is Made In China and China holds massive amounts of America Debt, you think America has the Upper Hand ????

      They are not being “good boys”., they need the dead man to keep on walking and buying more and more cheap chinese underwear !!

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        maalumiris

        “When even american underwear is Made In China and China holds massive amounts of America Debt, you think America has the Upper Hand ????”

        Are you saying white underwear exporting Sri Lanka too has the upper hand over America?

        You are being very brave.

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          N.V,
          SL and Chinese underwear makers have Americans by their b–ls quite literally.

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    American President Trump urgently needs a war because his popularity is going down. Assad also needs a war to keep his power in Syria. This is similar to Rajapkase family needed a victory to establish his rule for ever. He used chemical weapons, and cluster bombs. The power creates the environment and opportunities for a war and use that opportunity to establish their power at the expense of innocent lives. Truth never appear in public until the Powerful persons remains in power.

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    With this crazy Trump, WW 3, a nuclear war is not too far away, but there is good hope for his impeachment be even faster than that.

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    A quote: The former Australian PM, Tony Abbot, once characterized the civil war as a ‘war between baddies and baddies.’
    An Australian baddie’s comment. Remember at CHOGM2013 held in Colombo this Tony Abbott said that he was not there to pontificate on human rights issues.

    Doubts are cropping as to the validity of the claimed use of chemical weapons by Assad – not implying that he is not capable of. Remember the WMD-panic created just before the Iraq regime change? This morning doubts are being raised as to whether Trump actually authorized dropping of the “mother-of-bomb”. The bomb was ready in 2003 but needed urgent field test.

    Independent free thinkers have speculated as to the puppet role of US Presidents. The puppeteers can get their own way – Hoover had intimidated Presidents using information in his files.

    In SL, the armed services have too much say in GoSL policies. The police are still able to influence court cases through suitably planned prosecution.

    The world democracy is treading into unforeseen areas.

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    America did know all along Lankawe using Chemical weapons. America was well aware CBK using banned, Russian Thermobaric Bombs imported through Britain. They did know UN employees were deported to usage of banned weapons. They are well aware ICRC gave Makeshifts hospitals coordinated to army to shell, another war crime. Ambassador Blake with Mary Colin was the main figures arranged the white flag surrender and watched the White Flag Murder taking place right under control of New King. International agencies confirmed the use of cluster bomb, another banned weapon. The refugees in Tamil Nadu reported America collected additional evidences from them about the Chemical bombing. Many rehabilitated rebel accused government poisoning them. Lankawe army has been elevated to in 22 countries uses rape as weapon. These all are remaining accusations. The Tamils who are fearful about their loss of job if the Yahapalanaya is shaken is, vehemently falsifying the evidences and blocking international agencies coming inside and investigation.

    ICRC, TIA and many other international agencies were accused of collaboration with Old Royals in the war crime and other illegal activities. ICRC was involved in supplying the vehicle to Thajudeen murder. This is the one involved in white flag too. In 2012, I went to a meeting organized by ICRC and Society of Asian Cultural Studies. The ICRC guy got up told “To bring a war crime inquiry, just a 10,000 innocent people death is enough. But I wonder even if that had occurred.” The minimum estimated UNSG’s expert panel is 40,000. UN internal Inquiry is 70,000. Latter they revised to 100,000. 90,000 war widows reaming telling are their partners were massacred in the war. Then why are they waiting to kick start the International Inquiry?

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      Mallaiyuran,

      And America is least worried about this waste piece of land without any valuable resources (for them), and very few valuable brains and too many racist idiots.

      Even the interest on war crime charges are just to show the world that
      they are on top of everything including a world’s least concerned corner and its people.

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    If the proof is really needed, why there is reluctance in starting the inquiry.

    Russia bombed the plane left Netherland to Malaysia. It was proved with evidence. Did communist bully, Russia pay for the victims? Did they accept the guilt? The end was they faced more sanctions. Can they bring a case of Western countries holing payments? Do they know America has paid off for the Afghan Hospital accidental bombing?

    Are those who fought with CT to allow more than 300 words for comments have any moral grounds to ask for proofs those are going to be presented in volumes in an International Inquiry? I know the people working on those proofs. Will they give that to me put it in CT?

    If anybody has disproof, please announce it on the day they take it Hague. We will take a plane ticket and go there and see their presentation at Hague in Netherland

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    Sean Spicer the White House Press Secretary, last week said that Hitler did not uses chemical weapon against his own people.

    Thus White House Press secretary, the Press Secretary of the President of the USA, Press secretary of the leader of the free world, was endorsing Hitler’s holocaust of millions of Jews.

    if you apply that logic the Sri Lankan govt did not bomb its sown people in the No Fire Zone.

    And that is the logic the Sinhala govt used ever since independence

    They bombed and killed and slaughtered people of another country.

    The country of Tamil Eelam.

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      Rajash,

      You guys wait for any slips to use that opportunity to claim Eelam, even in a CT comment.

      Anyway, Sean Spicer mentioned about not using chemicals, Did no say Hitler didn’t kill his own people

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        “Anyway, Sean Spicer mentioned about not using chemicals, Did no say Hitler didn’t kill his own people “

        his press brief is available on you tube. watch it in full right up to his response to the journalist..

        Quote “..he (Hitler) was not using the gas on his own people…” unquote

        Isharath did Sri Lankan Govt of the day use gas/phosphorous on its own people?

        I did not mention Ealam in any of my comments

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    We reserve the right to lie and bomb any nation under any pretext. You darkies need to wake up to the reality that no country on earth can beat us militarily. We can take out North Korea’s inferior Airforce in 30 minutes and raze the place in under 24 hours. We destroyed 20% Syria’s obsolete airforce in a few minutes. We do not have to wait for a UN investigation to see if this was false flag operation or whether it was a lie and a set up. We can do as we please. Your UN gets most of its money from us. You need to obey. If we feel like disrupting Sri Lanka, we will do so with impunity. If India could drop Parippu on us and no one gave damn, do you think anyone will shout if we take over Trincomalee, and set up false flag operations and create Eelam? NO you cannot do anything to us. We are back in the only seat of power after the Barack Hussein’s failure with redlines and lines in the sand. We are here now to tell you all that we are Back as Number One and no one, no one dare question our write.

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    Trump needs to create some distractions to divert peoples attention from the dismal failures of every promise he made during campaign time

    Unfortunately, easiest way is to drop bombs on someone who cant fight back and get the US population shouting “USA! USA! USA!”. Seems having High IQ is not necessarily a condition of being Smart !

    They also have to dispose of the billions they spent in the past to develop these weapons, to make room to develop newer ones (Stimulating the Economy)

    Like the nuclear weapons dropped on Japan, this was the first use of this weapon on a human population. Why is everyone objecting and fussing ? You HAVE to test this somewhere, no ? You can’t very well drop it on Iran or North Korea because they might launch a nuke in retaliation.

    From “no civilians harmed”., the story has changed. 31 Terrorists, 86 Terrorists and “no one has yet visited the Villages close to the blast”

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      maalumiris

      “Trump needs to create some distractions to divert peoples attention from the dismal failures of every promise he made during campaign time”

      If a war is really needed, why doesn’t Trump chose to bomb this island?

      “From “no civilians harmed”., the story has changed. 31 Terrorists, 86 Terrorists and “no one has yet visited the Villages close to the blast”

      Only in this island the army fought the terrorists with one hand being tied behind the back and UN humanitarian charter in one hand.

      Terrorists committed suicide en masse.

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    At this New Year celebration time, a best job for Lankawe political writers is to write about the Kolavana Dump collapse. This is a classic example of how the poor are left in dangers after government after government have looted the public money and had spent $200 billions on an oppressive war.

    These all are only to show how much of pundits they and how proficient in foreign politics. North Korea can do, but Lankawe is not the country to talk about justice. It ruled by a war crime accused. Its rapist army occupying Tamils’ area after many times UNHRC demanded to vacate.

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    A closer look at photos from the town of Khan Shaykhun shows that the chemical attack site was tampered with and that the US report blaming the Syrian government can’t be true, says the MIT professor skeptical of the White House narrative.
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Theodore Postol, who wrote a preliminary review of the US government claims earlier this week and shared his findings with RT, examined photographs of the attack site and concluded that the report endorsed by the White House “could not be true.”

    Senior US administration officials who briefed the media on Tuesday admitted the White House intelligence was partly “based on the pro-opposition social media reporting,” which “tells a very clear and consistent story about what we think happened.” NEws ITEM

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    Dr. Laksiri Fernando

    This article is all about Western NGOs propagating Lies and dumb readers commenting on those lies.

    did you question why US bombed an abandoned airbase ?. If syria used chemical weapons on civilians or rebles on why US did not complain to United NAtions before any attacks, instead, even without anypress releases about chemical attacks US directly dropped 59 TOMAHAWK missiles on that air base and killed about 90 people.

    I think the attack was multipurpose. IT sent different signals. One was, simultaneously dropped a MOAP (MAssive ORdinanace Air dropped) or bomb with 11 tons high explosives to destroy some suspected tunnels in Afghanisthan and killed an unknown number of people.

    You were not honest enough to write the whole story.

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    Unfortunately super powers, great military powers and regional super powers can do a lot of things small countries cannot do and get away with it. Whether it is dumping Agent Orange, Phosporous and cluster bombs or massacres of innocents(with MyLai just being one incident) and dropping millions of pounds of bombs from 30,000 feet killing and maiming tens of thousands of innocents US gets away practicing contrary to what it preaches. Same with India. But SL is a small nation trapped in the “kamba adilley tharangey mey”.. between superpower concerns about China and long term strategic interests of nations like US. US used the human rights and war crimes issues as a leverage. It was a relatively survivalist smart move to go along with them; alternate would have been misery and humiliation. The UN Haiti mission report is also revealing a lot of embarrassing details and even new UN Secy for US Namrita Haley has mentioned it. That is egg in the face for GOSL and has made SL look bad in the new administration’s eyes. RealPolitik is what Chancellor Brandt wrote about surviving and succesfully working with East Germanny (GDR) when he was Chancellor of FRG or west germany. ISIS is sure to focus on SL if US becomes openly engaged with a military presence, but if it is done smartly India and US might not do to SL what US did to Libya, tried and failed in Ukraine and did in Iraq and is doing in Syria. Small nations cannot do what big nations do even if it means killing tens of thousands of civilians as the US did in Vietnam.

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      The whole Island of Lankawe opposed Hillary. They wanted Trump. Just because in US a reasonable number of immigrants didn’t vote to President Trump, Mano Ratwatte too copied them, at least in CT talks. But one should remember, he is one of the rare-few people predicted that Trump will be winning. That is something strange…..

      Then right after the election, New King said he was going to have New President to repeal the Resolution 30/1. Even puppet Colombo Media expressed doubts on that possibility. But Mano Ratwatte hoped for President Trump to do it (not sure if that was under UN ordinances as per Mano). Mangala met with new administration. Mano Ratwatte wrote that he too can arrange some more connections to Mangala so that Mangala should quickly press the New Administration to destroy the Resolution 30/1. Colombo Media wrote that New King had obtained appointment to meet President Trump on February 23rd.

      If President Trump had some or how repealed the 30/1, he would have been justified to bomb Syria or North Korea. But he did not repeal, but only allowed Lankawe to fool around with the resolution for another two more years. So, every hope has been turned around for Mano Ratwatte. Lankawe’s Sinhala Intellectuals are not happy with that. All the Sinhala Intellectuals were discontented all these time. But for their unexpectedness, President Trump had done something additional they can pretend like they don’t like. So this whole week all Sinhala intellectual are pulling out their spent out cannons and firing at President Trump.
      What can I say? Murderous Modaya Sinhala Intellectuals can scream loud to preach right and Justice to President Trump. But Trump’s Caravan will be moving for sure.

      If it is a Sinhala Intellectual, their honesty and sincerity is always in the toilet commode.

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    The Sinhalese used cluster bombs and chemical weapons to to exterminate 70,000 Tamil men, women, children and elderly within a matter of few months in 2009, according to the UN. Sinhalese are no different from Assad or any other tyrants. If Tamil extermination was broadcasted live as Syrians are doing now of their plight, the entire sinhella race would have been seen as nothing more than Nazis. But thanks to Channel 4, the world can still see what the sinhalese extremists have done to Tamils. SL forces made recent international headline because of their involvement in running child sex rings in Haiti and the world sees these sexual predators for what they truly are, vindicating the legitimacy of Tamil armed struggle against state sponsored rape culture, racial supremacy and religious extremism.

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      If you take up arms against a government, anywhere, the government will do everything it can to crush you. You can complain about “human rights”, but no one forced the Tamils to take up arms. Once they made that decision, the Sri Lankan Government had no choice but to respond in an aggressive manner.

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    Trump did the attack because people (especially those in his own Republican Party) were accusing him of colluding with Russia. Now they can’t say that. It was a smart political move for Trump. Trump doesn’t care about Syria and especially not Muslims, if you followed his election campaign. His preference is for Russia to handle those conflicts.

    Will Trump go after North Korea? No, since North Korea can easily attack Japan or South Korea. There are more than 100K US soldiers in the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between the two Koreas, and several hundred thousand more in Japan. Trump cannot simply bomb North Korea like he did with Syria. It would have to be a precision strike that not only took out the nuclear capability, but also the potential for a deadly response.

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    Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of the disappeared political columnist and cartoonist Prageeth, says his husband went missing after he published a piece on his investigation and informed diplomats over the issue.

    “In 2008, Prageeth wrote and informed the diplomats about the Sri Lankan government’s usage of chemical weapons against the people in the north,” she told the BBC.

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    It is a very good preliminary analysis. Let us await further developments. Trump in his lunacy does not perhaps realise that he is desperately trying to prove that Nostradamus was right. Bensen

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