… by Gordon Duff, VT Sr. Editor with New Eastern Outlook, Moscow
– First published … October 28, 2014 –
A massive explosion outside Kobani, the Syrian/Kurdish border town under attack by ISIL/ISIS publicly and to a less public extent, by the Turkish army as well.
Nuclear physicist, Jeff Smith, former IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) investigator and Science Editor for VT has been examining photographic evidence but is calling for more:
“Someone needs to develop and sell a simple fallout chemical test strip that changes color indicating type of radioactive materials being present in the soil. It would be a big seller. Similar to the chemical weapons test strips.”
Smith spent years investigating nuclear material smuggling and was part of the team that investigated 9/11; helping prepare the 2003 Department of Energy Report on 9/11 leaked by Edward Snowden thus summer.
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Kobani
This week, an American journalist, Serena Shim, from Rochester Hills, Michigan, died in a mysterious accident in Turkey. The Press TV investigative reporter had been threatened by Turkish intelligence only hours earlier, after reporting that ISIL/ISIS was openly receiving military air, weapons, and fighters, through Turkey with the help of an American run NGO. (Non-Governmental Organization)
Last week, 22 members of America’s coalition met in Washington to discuss the ongoing air campaign against ISIL/ISIS. The result was a considerable ramping up of America’s bombing campaign, particularly against ISIL/ISIS outside Kobani.
Jihadist forces of the Islamic Republic had been operating openly, seemingly without fear of attack. That suddenly changed after the October 14, 2014 Washington conference._________________________________
New Weapons Over Syria
Media unfamiliar with advanced combat aircraft have recently misidentified American heavy bombers flying over Syria as smaller planes. Only when photos are enhanced are what appear to be F 18 Super Hornets shown to be what they really are — B1B eight-engine heavy bombers flying from Qatar.
Thus, when examining weapons delivery systems — be they cruise missiles, F 16s or carrier based aircraft — the new US base in Qatar, (home to a fleet of heavy bombers, both B 52s and B1B), has added a new aspect to US capabilities in the Middle East. Planes that previously flew from Diego Garcia, well into the Indian Ocean, now fly from Qatar.
These planes, some capable of massive bomb loads, are the ones seen over Syria.
We asked Jeff Smith to analyze photographic evidence from the recent attack. This was his initial response:
“Not normal weapons, for sure.” Maybe thermite, white phosphor, thermobaric or nuke? The fireball and the plasmoids of hot metal fragments are most interesting. A Geiger counter and soil samples are the only way of telling for sure.
Normal explosions don’t have fireballs that last that long or are that big. Also spalding material is from the outer bomb casing. Iron or DU (Depleted Uranium) is red. Aluminum, phosphor, or magnesium is white spalding. Thermobarics are always red. Neutron bombs use aluminum casings and are always white.
The lack of a defined shock wave / blast front is a big clue. Most interesting.”
Smith cited that as a UN investigator he estimates that as many as 50 nuclear weapons have been used since 1945, including those used in Iraq and Afghanistan by US forces. Smith, as an investigator of NNP (Nuclear Non-Proliferation) issues says that Saudi Arabia has long had a nuclear arsenal, along with several other nations, such as Taiwan, South Korea and Brazil.
Our next question involved the estimated size of the Kobani explosion. This attack represents a significant development, as the possible use of advanced weapons inside Syria brings rise to political considerations.
“The weapon used in Kobani was bigger than 10 tons of TNT, up to 1kt if a neutron bomb or some other type of low yield enhanced radiation weapon was used. My guess is it is a test for micro nukes of some type, also called “uranium deuterium triggers.” An F-16 can’t make a bang that big with just one 1200 lb. bomb, unless it is “unconventional”. The same applies with any small missile warhead.”
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Election Desperation?
Beating ISIL/ISIS or at least announcing significant progress is key to the credibility of the Obama administration. America is facing a mid-term election in 2 weeks.
This election could turn America’s legislative branch over to the Israeli-controlled Republican party, which is dedicated to prolonging sanctions against Iran no matter what type of agreement the rest of the world reaches.
This is a major flaw in the US government, as congress has “hijacked” foreign policy from the State Department. The American constitution allows for “advice and consent” by the US Senate on treaties and specific appointments — a power the Israeli lobby has had expanded under Bush (43) allowing them to control American foreign policy.
The American legislative branch, almost totally Israeli-controlled, can block any governmental move by “defunding” or claiming “abuse of executive authority” and begin impeachment proceedings, which is a totally subjective and extrajudicial process.
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Atomic Irony
For every minute of media time addressing the threat of ISIL/ISIS, there is equal time spent warning the world of the nuclear threat Iran allegedly represents to the world. One of the rare areas of general agreement between at least the White House, though certainly not the entire US government, and Iran and Syria involves the threat posed by the “Islamic State.”
If, as Jeff Smith indicates, there is a substantial likelihood that the United States is using nuclear weapons in Syria, whatever the justification, when that same government sanctions another for what most accept as unfounded allegations of nuclear proliferation violations, the misuse of “moral authority” defies comprehension.
We do know America has used nuclear weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan, this has been confirmed. Neither nation had attacked the United States. It had long been held as the height of absurdity that Israel, long a nuclear power through trickery and deceit, has openly violated not only international law, but American law as well.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, America, in accordance with the 1977 Glenn Amendment, is prohibited by treaty ratified by congress from supplying any aid to nations in violation whether signatory or not. Chief among these is Israel. This is not a “sanction”, but a full treaty within the clear authority of America’s constitution.
Thus we stand, a nation that has used nuclear weapons in wars of aggression, a nation that turns quickly to such weapons almost as though they were a “convenience,” yet standing in judgment unaffected by fact, by reality or accountability.
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Gordon Duff is a Vietnam War Marine combat veteran who has worked on veterans and POW issues for decades and consulted with governments challenged by security issues; and is a senior editor and chairman of the board of VT, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.
Editing: Jim W. Dean
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