Thread by @ScottLucas_EA

Thread: #Syria, Chemical Attacks, & Disinfo

Interesting outcome from "BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit" re 13-part Mayday @Radio4 series

1. Series was on disinfo campaign -- pursued by #Russia, #Assad regime, and their allies -- contributed to death of James Le Mesurier

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2. Series included episode on #Russia-#Assad-allies disinfo to deny #Douma chlorine attack, which killed 43 people, in April 2018

3. ECU outcome upheld series while criticizing "limited aspect" re ex-#OPCW staffer "Alex" (Brendan Whelan)

#Syria

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4. ECU said #BBC's Mayday should have been more circumspect re 1) possibility that ex-#OPCW staffer Whelan got $100,000 from WikiLeaks and 2) any Whelan belief that #Douma chlorine attack was "staged"

5. But ECU noted evidence for both points

Now the interesting part...

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6. ECU's findings *reinforce* Mayday's investigation of #Russia-#Assad-allies disinfo of #Syria chemical attacks and war crimes denial

7. ECU notes ex-#OPCW staffer Whelan "collaborated w journalists who held broadly the same views" as Russia and Assad regime

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8. There's escape clause for Peter Hit'chens, who claims he is not promoting #Russia-#Assad line *but*

9. For 1st time, Hit'chens acknowledges that ex-#OPCW staffer Whelan is his source for denial of #Douma chlorine attack

Keep reading....

#Syria

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6. So ex-#OPCW staffer Whelan is primary (arguably only) source to deny #Douma chemical attack for:

A) Journos who attended his conference, organized by #WikiLeaks, in autumn 2019

B) @AaronJMate

C) Hit'chens

#Syria

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7. Thus key question: how did Whelan make contact w journos like @AaronJMate and Hit'chens? Who was involved in making arrangements?

8. So ECU finding connects back to Mayday's 13-part series re #Russia and #Assad regime disinfo campaign to deny chemical attacks

#Syria

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Link for BBC's ECU finding about #Mayday documentary, James Le Mesurier and #Syria chemical attacks

bbc.co.uk/contact/ecu/ma…

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