Thread by @ScottLucas_EA

Thread:

1. Let's dissect latest effort at #Syria Chemical Attacks denial & undermining of inspections.

OPCW FFM Final Report - w *no* dissent by those n investigation - concluded "reasonable grounds" for chlorine attack n April 2018, killing 43 people n building n #Douma

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https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1370583626170171394

2. As soon as #OPCW issued report in March 2019, #Russia launched campaign to discredit & undermine inspectors. This has been parallelled, & sometimes interwoven w, #Syria Chemical Attacks denial by activists in "West".

eaworldview.com/2019/11/denyin…

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3. So why would "progressive" @aaronjmate go to hard-right, arguably white nationalist outlet over #Douma case?

Cuz he knows @TuckerCarlson will amplify misinformation and false claims in @wikileaks campaign, paralleling #Russia line

#Syria

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4. (0:00) "Facts here are overwhelming"

Maté's only "facts" are claims from his *only* source --- e-mails fed to him by disgruntled ex-OPCW staffer "Alex".

"Alex" rejection of any evidence of chlorine, in interim report, was opposed by rest of FFM in summer 2018.

#Syria

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5. "Alex" left #OPCW in Sept. 2018, w no involvement in further investigation and Final Report. Someone connects him w @wikileaks, & he puts out his personal objections from Sept. 2019 --- including e-mails to Maté.

#Syria #Douma

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6. (0:09) Maté: "Did not find any evidence of a chemical weapon"

False. Only "Alex" said this --- all others on #OPCW FFM concluded "reasonable grounds" of chlorine attacks on 2 buildings in #Douma.

#Syria

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7. (0:15) Maté: "That report was suppressed"

False. The interim report was not "suppressed". "Alex" version was opposed by all other #OPCW experts --- losing analytic battle, he claims suppression.

And #OPCW FFM Final Report is not "suppressed".

#Syria #Douma

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8. (0:19) Maté: "They were removed from the investigation."

False. No one was removed from #OPCW investigation. Maté is confusing the inspection team and the analysts involved in assessing their findings.

#Syria #Douma

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9. (0:25) Maté: "Final report excluded key scientific findings"

False. The only "exclusion" from #OPCW Final Report, after 10 months of investigation and analysis, was "Alex" opinion which had been rejected --- before further investigation and assessment.

#Syria #Douma

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10. (0:33) Maté: "2 whistleblowers"

There are *no* "whistleblowers". There is only "Alex".

2nd disgruntled #OPCW staffer, Ian Henderson, complained his "engineering memo" was not considered by FFM -- but memo was not part of investigation's mandate re chemical weapons.

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11. (0:40) Maté: "Damning series of leaks"

The only "leaks" about #OPCW FFM report are Alex's press conference, set up by @wikileaks in Sept. 2019 and his e-mails.

Maté has no other source.

#Syria #Douma

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12. (0:56) Maté: "OPCW has attacked these whistleblowers"

False. #OPCW leaders held off for months from any comment, despite "Alex" conference and leaks. Finally, in spring 2020, it criticized Alex and Henderson w/o naming them (and watered down draft before release).

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13. (1:08) Maté: "You won't let actual scientists speak"

False. UN Security Council has been fully briefed by #OPCW. Council voted v. speech by ex-OPCW head Bustani because he had no role in #Douma, having left OPCW in 2002.

#Syria

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14. (1:25) Maté: "This letter came out"

Letter is @wikileaks follow-up to "Alex" conference in Sept. 2019. None of signatories have had involvement in #Douma & #OPCW Final Report.

There are no "facts" in letter other than "Alex" claims.

#Syria

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15. @wikileaks letter misrepresents #OPCW response in spring 2020 to "Alex" claims and falsely says "senior #OPCW officials" support "Alex" claims.

Letter also tries to undermine #OPCW finding of sarin attack by #Assad regime in NW #Syria in April 2017.

#Douma

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16. (1:39) Maté: "These lies can lead to war"

Maté now calls #OPCW FFM Final Report on #Douma "lies". In social media posts, he supports conspiracy theory that Douma victims were killed elsewhere (and that Aug. 2013 sarin attacks near #Damascus did not happen).

#Syria

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17. (2:06) Maté: "Warmongers in Washington"

Beyond #Douma, Maté never once refers to any responsibility by #Assad regime for any act in #Syria since 2011.

18. (2:08) @TuckerCarlson: "I agree".

(Picture: Victims in #Douma, April 2018)

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Postscript: If Maté replies, it will be likely be:

1. Ad hominem w no relevance to #Douma/#Syria

2. Repetition of e-mails from "Alex" (his sole source), exaggerated as being the view of many

It is unlikely to be any presentation of fact, or knowledge of #Syria, beyond "Alex"