On the photographs of executed Syrians: you have to read to believe

So the US government knew of its existence:  "The United States did not act on the photos for the past two months, officials said, because it did not have possession of the digital files and could not establish their authenticity."  But the US government believe that the documents are authentic because they are well-numbered:  "Nevertheless, they said, the administration believes the photos are genuine, basing that assessment in part on the meticulous way in which the bodies in the photos were numbered."  And now about the neutral sponsors of the source: "Lawyers commissioned by the Qatari government, an avowed opponent of Mr. Assad, to assess the photos did not make Caesar available or offer independent proof of their origin."   Only sentences after the Times assured us that the US government believe that the pictures are authentic, we learn this:  "For now, the White House and the State Department are expressing outrage over the images, even as they caution that the United States has not independently authenticated them."  So how many individuals are in the pictures? How many thousands?  "The report on the photos, though led by three experts with experience in international war crimes trials, also raised some questions. While saying that the full archive consists of about 55,000 photographs, indicating the execution of around 11,000 people, the investigators acknowledged they had examined only 5,500 photos showing 835 individuals."  As for the timing, pure coincidence:  "The timing of the report’s release also suggested that it had been timed to undermine Mr. Assad’s government as talks began. The report says investigators interviewed the photographer, Caesar, on Jan. 12, 13, and 18, meaning the report was prepared within days of the last interview."  Oh, it seems "neighboring countries" were involved:  "Mr. Rashid, whose group helped smuggle them out, said it had worked for months with contacts in Syria and in unnamed “neighboring countries” to get the defector and his photos out of Syria."  Of course, neighboring countries is a euphemism for the neutral and peaceful countries that surround Syria.