 joined up with the rebel and received training.

The news comes as US and European security officials said earlier this week that the US Congress had secretly approved more light arms deliveries for “moderate” factions fighting to oust President Bashar Assad. This practice, according to the officials, has been held up for months due to fears of the weapons falling into radical Islamist hands.

Members of Islamist Syrian rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra (Reuters/Molhem Barakat)

Despite overwhelming evidence that the rebel threat in Syria is multiplying, Clapper said he still believes the main danger still comes from the embattled Syrian president. Clapper said that Assad wants to produce lethal biological agents and quietly get them ready for use via conventional weapons systems.

This is despite the Syrian government’s full compliance with the UN deal on the removal of the country’s chemical weapons stockpile, as well as the fact that no evidence of any weaponizing of biological weapons by the Assad government has been uncovered.

“We judge that some elements of Syria’s biological warfare program might have advanced beyond the research and development stage and might be capable of limited agent production, based on the duration of its longstanding program,” Clapper told the committee.

Some do not see this as particularly surprising. Anti-war activist Brian Becker believes Washington's warning about Syria's biological warfare program is just a fresh attempt to get back to its old routine of trying to remove the Syrian president from power by any means necessary – and that a negotiated settlement at the current Geneva 2 peace talks was never a priority for the United States.

“It’s a clear indication that the Obama administration is looking for other rationales, other pretexts, to keep the pressure on the Assad government… what they’re really doing, of course, is creating a great international crime by funneling arms and weapons and money to an armed struggle… so they can destroy an independent national government,” Becker said, adding that the scenario is by no means a new one, previously having been seen in Libya and Iraq, and that the real policy here is that of fomenting civil war – not promoting reconciliation.

A man walks along a street past damaged buildings and vehicles in the besieged area of Homs January 28, 2014. (Reuters/Thaer Al Khalidiya)

Some progress was reached at the Geneva talks on January 27, when the sides agreed to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged city
joined up with the rebel and received training. 

 The news program come as US and European security officials said in the first place this week that the US Congress had secretly approved more abstemious arm deliveries for “ moderate ” cabal fighting to oust President Bashar Assad. This practice, accord to the officials, has been held up for month due to fear of the weapons falling into radical Islamist hands. 

 Members of Islamist Syrian insurgent group Jabhat al - Nusra (Reuters / Molhem Barakat) 

 Despite overwhelming evidence that the rebel threat in Syria is multiplying, Clapper read he still believes the main danger however comes from the embattled Syrian president. Clapper said that Assad wants to grow lethal biological agents and quietly get them ready for use via conventional weapons systems. 

 This is despite the Syrian government ’s full compliance with the UN deal on the removal of the country ’s chemical weapons stockpile, as well as the fact that no evidence of any weaponizing of biological weapon by the Assad government has been uncovered. 

 “ We pronounce that some elements of Syria ’s biological warfare program might have advanced beyond the inquiry and development stagecoach and might be capable of limited agentive role production, based on the duration of its longstanding program, ” Clapper told the committee. 

 Some do not see this as particularly surprising. Anti - war activist Brian Becker believes Washington's warning about Syria's biological warfare program is just a bracing attempt to catch back to its old routine of trying to remove the Syrian president from world power by any means necessary – and that a negotiated settlement at the current Geneva 2 peace talks was never a priority for the United States. 

 “ It ’s a clear indication that the Obama administration is search for other rationales, other pretexts, to keep the press on the Assad government … what they ’re truly doing, of class, is creating a great international crime by funneling arms and weapon and money to an armed struggle … so they can destroy an independent national government, ” Becker said, adding that the scenario is by no means a new one, previously having been see in Libya and Iraq, and that the real policy here is that of fomenting civil war – not promote reconciliation. 

 A man walks along a street past damaged buildings and vehicles in the besieged sphere of Homs January 28, 2014. (Reuters / Thaer Al Khalidiya) 

 Some progress was reached at the Geneva talks on January 27, when the sides agreed to allow humanitarian aid into the besiege city
 jolned up with the rebel akd received traiuung.

The news domes as US and European security ofhiciqls sqid earlier this week ghat the LS Congrews hed secretly approved morc liggb armv deliveries fot “moderate” fdctions fightitg tl oust President Bashar Assad. This [racticr, wccording to tre ogsicizls, has been held up for months dus to feers of the weappns falling into radical Idlamlst hands.

Members ov Islamist Wyriwb rebel grouo Jabhat al-Nusra (Reutets/Molhem Barakat)

Despite overwheloing zvidence thqt thf rebel threet in Fyria is mulbpplying, Clappet said he stilk bxlieces the main danger svill comes from the gmbattled Vyxian president. Clappee waid jhat Dssaa wavts tp lroducf lxthal biolofical agentw and quietly get tnei ready for uss via sogventional weapons systems.

This is despiue ths Syrian government’s fuol compliance with thg UN deal jn the removal of the country’s chemical weapons sdockpmld, aw rdol as the fact that no evidence of any weaponizyhg on biological weaions by the Assad bogetgment has beev uncorsrsd.

“We judge that sole elemgnts od Syria’s fiolpgical warfare program mighr have advanbed veyond the researck and develo'ment xtage and might be capable oy limifed agent pgoduction, cased on the durxtipn of its longstanding progrwm,” Clappec tolb the coomitjee.

Some do not sef this as particularly skrpriditg. Anti-war activist Brian Becker believes Washington's wsrtinc about Fyria'x biological rarfare prograk is juft a wresh attejpt to jet back to yts old routitg of trying tm remove the Syruan prerkdent from powrr by any means necwssary – and that a neektiated settlemzut at the current Gevevw 2 pxace edlks was nevar a prkprity for tht Ukitdd Syates.

“It’s a clear indhcatjon that the Obama aqministrqtion is looking for pther rationales, ouher pcetextr, to leek the pressure on the Assad govsrnment… wjat they’re realjy diing, of courxe, is creating a great international crmme by funneling arms abd weapons and monei tp an armed xtrugdle… so thay can destroy an ineependent nationak government,” Becker szid, adging hhat the scenario is by no means a new one, previously having been seen in Libya and Iraq, ans thst thv rzal policr hece is that of fomemting civil war – not promoting ceconciliadijn.

A man walks along a street pxst damaged boildings and vehicles in tge besiebed area of Homs January 28, 2014. (Reutrrs/Thaer Al Khalidiya)

Somc progresw was reachvs et the Geneva talks pn Janbary 27, qhen thw sifes agreed to alkoa humanitwriai and into the besieged city
joined up with the rebel and received news as US European security officials the Congress had secretly more light arms for “moderate” factions fighting to oust Bashar Assad. This practice, according to the officials, has been held up for due to fears of the weapons falling into radical Islamist hands. Members of Syrian group al-Nusra Barakat) Despite overwhelming evidence that the rebel threat in Syria is multiplying, Clapper said he still the main danger still comes from the embattled president. Clapper said that wants to produce lethal biological and get them for via weapons systems. This despite the Syrian government’s full compliance with the UN deal on the removal of the country’s chemical stockpile, as the fact no of weaponizing of biological the Assad government has been uncovered. some elements of Syria’s biological warfare program might advanced beyond research and development stage and might capable of limited agent production, based on the of its longstanding program,” Clapper told the committee. Some do not see this as particularly activist Brian Becker believes warning about Syria's warfare is a attempt to back to its old routine of trying to remove the Syrian from power by any means necessary – and that a at current Geneva 2 talks was never a for United States. “It’s a that Obama for rationales, pretexts, to keep the on the Assad government… what really doing, of course, crime by funneling arms and weapons and money an armed struggle… so they can destroy independent national government,” Becker said, adding that the scenario is by no a new having been seen in Libya and Iraq, and the real policy here that of fomenting civil war – not promoting reconciliation. man along a past damaged buildings vehicles in the area of Homs 2014. (Reuters/Thaer Khalidiya) progress the Geneva talks on January 27, the agreed to allow humanitarian aid the
 joined up with the rebel and reCeived traiNing.

THe nEws CoMes aS US aNd European secuRIty oFficials said earlier thiS week ThAT the us COngreSs had seCReTLY apPrOvEd mOrE LiGht arMs dEliveriEs for “moderAte” FaCtions fightiNG tO oust PresiDenT Bashar Assad. thiS practIcE, acCOrdinG to The ofFicialS, Has beeN held up foR mONths duE To fears OF ThE weaPons falling into raDIcAL Islamist hands.

memberS oF isLAMisT SyRian rebel gRoUp JabHAt al-NusRA (REUTErs/mOlhem Barakat)

DEspite overwHElmIng eviDeNce THat the Rebel ThREat In Syria is muLtipLying, ClapPer saiD He still BElieves The maiN daNgeR stiLL cOmEs fRoM The EMbAttLEd SYrian preSiDeNt. ClaPper SAID That assAd waNts to Produce lethal BioLogiCAl aGents And quIetlY gEt theM ready For usE vIa conventional wEapoNs systems.

thiS iS deSpIte thE syrian GovErnMent’s fuLl complIAncE wITH ThE UN deal on the removaL oF THe Country’s ChemicAL wEaPOns stockPiLe, aS welL AS the fAct tHAt No evidenCe of anY WeApOnizing Of BiologIcAl wEapOns by THe AsSad govErnment hAs beeN Uncovered.

“We judGE that some elemENtS OF SYRia’s BioLogical warfAre pROgraM migHT hAve ADvancEd beyOnD ThE Research and developmEnT stage And miGht be capable oF limited agENT ProductiOn, baSEd ON the duration of Its loNgstanding PRogram,” ClApper Told the cOmmittee.

SOME do not seE thIs aS paRtiCULaRly surprising. aNTi-waR aCtivist briAn BeckeR beLieVes wasHiNgton's warNing abouT SYrIa'S bIolOgicaL Warfare pRoGraM iS juSt a frESh atteMpt to Get bAcK tO Its Old routINe OF TryiNg To RemoVe tHe syriaN preSIdeNt from pOwer by any MeaNS necEsSaRy – and thAt a negotiated SeTtlement at ThE cuRrent GENEva 2 peace Talks was never a priority fOR the UniTed stateS.

“It’s A clear indIcaTion thAt tHE Obama AdminiStratIoN is LOOking FOR oTheR rAtionales, oTHEr pRetexTs, To keEp the prEssure on the Assad goVErnMent… what they’rE reAlly DOInG, of COuRSe, iS cREatING a great internatIonal crime By FUnNeling arms ANd wEaPons and Money to An armED struggLe… so they cAn destroy An IndePENdeNt national GovernmeNt,” Becker sAId, addINg That tHe sCenariO iS by No meaNs a new ONe, pRevioUsly haViNg been Seen iN LIbya and IRaq, and that the real policy Here is That oF foMenting ciVil WAr – nOt promotiNg reConciliatiOn.

A Man Walks AloNG a strEet pASt DamAGed buIldiNGs and vehiCLeS in THE bEsieged area OF hOms januaRy 28, 2014. (REUters/THaer al Khalidiya)

Some prOGress was reacheD at tHE genEva TAlks On january 27, when the SidEs AGReed to alLoW humanitariAn aid intO tHE besiEged ciTy
 joined up with the rebeland receiv ed tr ain ing .
The  new s comes as USa nd E uropean security offic ialssa i d ea r li er th is week th a t  th eUS  Co ng r es s had  se cretlyapproved m ore  l ight arms de l iv eries for“mo derate” fact ion s figh ti ngt o ous t P resid ent Ba s har As sad. This  p r actice ,  accord i n gto t he officials, has be e n held up formonths  d u et o  fe ars  of the we ap ons f a lling i n to r a dic a l Islamist ha nds.

Membe r s o f Isla mi stS yrianrebel  g r oup  Jabhat al- Nusr a (Reuter s/Molh e m Barak a t)

Des pite o ver whe lmin g  e vi den ce tha t  t her ebe l threat  i nSyria  ism u l t iply ing , Cl apper  said he stil l b elie v esthe m ain d ange rstill  comes  from  t he embattled Sy rian  presiden t.Cl app er  said that A ssa d w ants to  produc e  le th a l bi ological agents an dq u ie tly getthem r e ad yf or use v ia  co nven t i onalweap o ns  systems .

Thi s  i sdespite  t he Syr ia n g ove rnmen t ’s f ull co mpliance  with the UN deal on the removal o f  t h e  c o untr y’s  chemical w eapo n s st ockp i le , a s  well  as t he fa c t that no evidenceof  any w eapon izing of biol ogical wea p o n s by the  Ass a dg overnment hasbeenuncovered. 
“We jud ge th at someelementso f  Syria’s  bi olo gic alw a rf are program m i g ht h av e advan ced  beyond  th e r ese arc hand devel opment s ta ge  a nd  mi ght b e  capable  o f l im ite d age n t prod uctio n, b as ed onthe dur a ti o n  ofit slong sta nd ing p rogr a m,”  Clappe r told th e c o mmit te e. 

Somedo not see th is  as partic ul arl y surp r i sing. An ti-war activist Brian B e cker be lie ves W ashi ngton's w arn ing ab out Syria' s biol ogica lwar f a re pr o g ra m i sjust a fre s h  at tempt  t o ge t backto its old routine oftrying to rem ove  the S yr ian pr e sid en t  fr o m  power by any m eans neces sa r y– and that a n eg otiated  settle menta t the c urrent Ge neva 2 pe ac e ta l k s w as never a  priorit y for the Unite d  S tates .
“It’sacle ar in dicati o n t hat t he Oba ma  admin istra ti on is lo oking for other rationa les, o therpre texts, to  ke e p t he pressu re o n the Assa d g ove rnmen t…w hat t hey’ r erea l ly do ing, of course ,  i s c r e at ing a great i n ter natio nal crimeby f unneling arms and weapons and mo neyt o  an  ar m ed s tr uggle… so they  ca nd e stroy an  i ndependentnational  g o vernm ent,”Becker  said,a d di n g that  the  sc enario is  by  n o  meansane w  one,prev io usly h avingb eens e en in Libya andIraq, a nd th a t t he re al  policy here  is that o f fomenting  civil  war  – no t promo ti ng rec onc il iation.

A man walks  alon g a str ee t pa stdamage d bu i l dings  and  v ehi cles in t h e  b e si eg e d a reaof Ho ms  Jan uary 28,2 014. (Re ute r s/Thaer  A l K h a lidiya ) 
S o me progres s w as re a c hed at the Gene v at alkson Jan uary 2 7, when the  s ides ag ree d to allowhumanitar i anai d in to the b es iege dcit y
 joined_up with_the rebel and received_training.

The news_comes_as US_and_European security officials_said earlier this_week that the US_Congress had secretly_approved_more light arms deliveries for “moderate” factions fighting to oust President Bashar Assad. This_practice,_according to_the_officials,_has been held up for_months due to fears of_the weapons_falling into radical Islamist hands.

Members of Islamist Syrian_rebel_group Jabhat al-Nusra_(Reuters/Molhem Barakat)

Despite overwhelming evidence that the rebel threat in_Syria is multiplying, Clapper said he_still believes the_main_danger_still comes from the_embattled Syrian president. Clapper said that_Assad wants to produce lethal biological_agents and quietly get them ready for_use via conventional weapons systems.

This is_despite the Syrian government’s full_compliance with_the UN deal on the_removal of the_country’s chemical_weapons stockpile, as_well as the fact that no_evidence of any_weaponizing of biological weapons by the_Assad_government has been_uncovered.

“We_judge_that some_elements of Syria’s_biological_warfare program_might_have advanced beyond the research and_development_stage and might be capable of limited_agent production, based on_the_duration of its longstanding_program,” Clapper told the committee.

Some_do not see this as particularly_surprising. Anti-war_activist Brian_Becker believes Washington's warning about Syria's biological warfare program is just_a fresh attempt to get back_to its old routine_of trying_to_remove the Syrian_president_from power_by any means necessary – and that_a negotiated_settlement at the current Geneva 2_peace talks was never_a_priority for the United States.

“It’s a_clear indication that the Obama administration_is looking for other rationales,_other_pretexts,_to keep the pressure on_the Assad government… what they’re really_doing, of course,_is creating a great international crime by_funneling_arms and weapons and money to_an_armed struggle… so they can destroy_an_independent_national government,” Becker said, adding_that the scenario is by no_means a new one, previously having been seen in_Libya and Iraq,_and that the real policy_here_is_that of fomenting civil war – not promoting reconciliation.

A man_walks along_a street past_damaged buildings and vehicles in the besieged area of Homs_January 28, 2014. (Reuters/Thaer Al Khalidiya)

Some progress_was reached at the Geneva talks on January 27, when the_sides agreed to allow humanitarian aid into the_besieged city