Sunday, April 1, 2012

Iran Concerns Leak Beyond Nuclear to Chemical


Haaretz reported:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that Turkey stopped an Iranian shipment carrying Turkish chemicals to Syria. When asked for an explanation, Iran claimed that the chemicals being shipped to Syria were for agricultural purposes. Edrogan said in response: “But we know that it is possible to make chemical weapons out of materials meant for agriculture.” 
This news story would have me believe an Iranian ship loaded chemicals in Turkey for transport to Syria.  Did Turkish officials seize the ship?  Who's out the money for the shipment, Iranians, Syrians or the Turkish chemical producers?

Which Turkish chemical company reached the deal with Syria?  Who hired the Iranian shipper?  Who might benefit from a seized Iranian chemical tanker?

The shift of Western concern to chemical weapons feels orchestrated, especially since the story came out of a 70+ nation "Friends of Syria" group.

Update 4-7-12:  Iran and Syria remain high on the list for Western tampering.   A round of Holy Week restraint on war feels fake, especially when leaders and the media offer the usual Al Qaeda threat.