The German press are stating that Assad did not order any chemical attacks even though officers in his army had been asking and been turned down for months. So could have been a rogue officer, so are the Americans just going to bomb him then? Nah its all out regime change now as usual.

German reports: Assad did not order chemical attacks

Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly refused to give his military commanders permission to use chemical weapons, according to German newspapers citing intelligence reports, writes Mark Rice-Oxley.
German newspapers reported intriguing radio messages picked up by a German spyship, the Oker, which is in the eastern Mediterranean.
Bild am Sonntag reported that Assad did not approve the 21 August attack that killed hundreds in east Damascus and prompted the threat of western retaliation.
Bild reported that Syrian commanders have been seeking clearance for use of chemical weapons for four months.


Syrian brigade and division commanders had been asking the Presidential Palace to allow them to use chemical weapons for the last four-and-a-half months, according to radio messages intercepted by German spies, but permission had always been denied, the Bild am Sonntag paper said.
This could mean Assad may not have personally approved the attack close to Damascus on 21 August in which more than 1,400 are estimated to have been killed, intelligence officers suggested.
Germany's foreign intelligence agency (BND) could not be reached for comment.
Bild said the radio traffic was intercepted by a German naval reconnaissance vessel, the Oker, sailing close to the Syrian coast.

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