Comrade Laure sent me this: "For a week now, we were hearing "concerns" and "threats" and "fear" about Syria's chemical weapons. Only today, the government decides to comment. What Jihad Makdissi said and in English is this: "
“Any stocks of WMD or any unconventional weapons that the Syrian Arab Republic possess would never, would never (this is not a typo, he said it twice) be used against civilians or against the Syrian people during this crisis under any circumstances, no matter how the crisis would evolve, no matter how. These weapons are meant to be used only and strictly in the event of external aggression.” And you can hear it here.
How does this translate into such titles?
AFP: Syria threatens to use chemical weapons if attacked
USA Today: Syria threatens to use chemical weapons if attacked
The Guardian: Syria threatens to use chemical weapons on outside forces
Do you hear a threatening tone? So they write articles about Syria's possible use of chemical weapons against civilians, world leaders comment and express concern, Syria denies it will use chemical weapons, they write that Syria threatens to use them, world leaders express outrage at Syria threatening to use them."
