To say that only Assad had anything to gain from the choice of target is actually to misunderstand what the gain might be.

If (I stress IF) the rebels wanted to goad the Western Powers into attacking Assad, what could be more logical than choosing a target which, on the surface, would seem to benefit only Assad?

Surely that would produce exactly the degree of belief in Assad's guilt that we see here.

I'm with GfS on this one. Nobody here KNOWS who used that gas!

To assume that the rebels would not be that devious, or that callous, is to forget that they are fighting for their lives, and their religious beliefs at the same time.

Until we absolutely KNOW who to blame, we don't know who to support, because if the rebels should happen to be guilty, I for one would not want to see them in power.

Now Ake and others can fulminate over my "liberal" views.

Don T.