[belsarius]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I read that sarin has a shelf life of 5 months, although many people who manufacture it purposely add impurities to give it a shorter shelf life due to the fact it isn't save to have the stuff sitting around for too long.

Not to be the tinfoil hat guy, but how do we even know that it was Assad's side that did it? This is exactly the same thing a rebel group or ISIS would do to stir the pot to have the U.S. attack Assad. Especially when you consider Trump's statements just before it happened about Obama being weak on Syria. It put his administration in a position where they would have to put their money where their mouth is or look weak themselves. That is why it is important that presidents temper their rhetoric about past administrations and keep their cards close to their chests. Something Trump seems incapable of.

I think there is a really good chance that Trump was played like a fiddle here. Are we just supposed to take the word of a president that is a proven pathological liar on just about every issue? And not that I care at about Assad being attacked, but it is a double edged sword. You strengthen ISIS and some of the other unsavory rebel groups at the same you weaken Assad.

Everything has been going Assad's way. Russian support, taking back Aleppo, the rebels have been losing ground and steam in the north, ISIS being driven back and reduced. It makes no sense for him to use chemical weapons and risk international outrage and retaliation for killing 100 people. This whole situation just isn't adding up.