<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Global-Viewpoint/2013/0827/America-is-not-the-world-s-policeman-in-Syria-or-Iraq" target="_blank" style="font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px">http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Global-Viewpoint/2013/0827/America-is-not-the-world-s-policeman-in-Syria-or-Iraq</a><br>
<div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">
<p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px"><b style="padding:0px;margin:0px"><br>Nathan Gardels:</b> Based on your experience, and what you've seen in recent days, do you believe the verdict of the Western intelligence agencies that Assad used chemical weapons is credible and reliable?</p>


<p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px"><b style="padding:0px;margin:0px">Hans Blix:</b> The indications are certainly in the direction of the use of chemical weapons. Also, the circumstantial evidence points to the Assad regime carrying out the use of such weapons.</p>


<p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px">However, since the Western powers have asked for United Nations inspections – and <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/Syria" title="Title: Syria" rel="nofollow" style="padding:0px;margin:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(32,93,135)" target="_blank">Syria</a> has accepted and inspectors have been put in the field – we all should wait to see the report of the inspectors before action is taken. </p>


<p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px">As we’ve seen before, the political dynamics are running ahead of due process.</p>


<div style="padding:0px;margin:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px"><p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;font-weight:bold"><b style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;padding:0px;margin:0px">Gardels:</b><span style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;font-weight:normal"> </span><span style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;font-weight:normal">An echo of Iraq under</span><span style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;font-weight:normal"> </span><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/George+W.+Bush" title="Title: George W. Bush" rel="nofollow" style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;font-weight:normal;padding:0px;margin:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(32,93,135)" target="_blank">President Bush</a><span style="font-size:14px;line-height:22px;font-weight:normal">?</span><br>


</p></div><p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px"><b style="padding:0px;margin:0px">Blix:</b> In a way, yes. Then, too, the Americans and their allies asked for inspections for mass destruction weapons. Then, too, they said, “forget it, we have enough evidence on our own to act. We are the world police. Our publics are demanding immediate action!”</p>


<p style="padding:0px;margin:0px 0px 1em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px">I do not go along with the statement by the US that “it is too late” for Syria now to cooperate. That is a poor excuse for taking military action.<br>


<br>[...]</p><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><span><font color="#888888"><div><br></div></font></span></font></span></div></div></div></div>-- <br>Robert Naiman<br>Policy Director<br>Just Foreign Policy<br><a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">www.justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
<a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
</div>