"An unsubstantiated newspaper article becomes unassailable fact - it isn't"
Not unsubstantiated (if you are referring to the FACT that Britain sold ammunition to Assad, which both you and your friend identified as sniper bullets - sorry sniper rifles which turned out to be sniper rifle bullets).
"You have clearly been searching vigorously, but all you have come up with is some sniper rifles."
The article (Guardian) carried a an official government chart showing the sale actually existed and was licenced for export.
You then about turned and first (without evidence) claimed that the licence was cancelled, then, failing to convince, you now appear to be claiming it didn't exist - want me to dig it up once more to save you the stress of doing it for yourself, or do you think you can manage it by yourself?
You fick friend went through six different explanations for the sale, finally settling on 'I mistook Libya for Syria'.
I'd stick to your bar-room soldiering if I were you.
"The UK government was and is involved."
"Mr Annan criticised the Security Council for failing to back his peace plan. "At a time when we need – when the Syrian people desperately need – action, there continues to be finger-pointing and name calling in the Security Council,"
"No he did not".
From my posting the day after the Question Time broadcast
"On BBC's Question Time last night, UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond; Liberal Democrat peer, Shirley Williams; and Daily Mail journalist Ann Leslie claimed it would be unwise for the West to intervene in the Syrian situation - Alastair Campbell waffled and said nothing coherent. All claimed that Assad was preferable to any alternative Government.... Ironically, comedian Steve Coogan was the only one on the panel calling for some sort of action."
To which the Chocolate soldier responded:
"Sounds like the "typical" BBC Question Time panel it had only one person with any grasp of what is the right thing to do. The panel members? two politicians, the spin doctor who pushed for action in Iraq, a journalist and a comedian. And it is the comedian who got it right - now why am I not surprised at that - all the others have to be told what to think before they walk out the door."
Now let's see where he has gone from here - about turn, quick march, no doubt!!
What a pair of tossers
Jim Carroll