I beseech you, sir, to consider the possibility that the supposed chlorine gas attack at Douma, Syria may have been a carefully constructed propaganda fraud on the part of the rebels encircled in Douma. Such a fraud would have as its purpose the elicitation of exactly the kind of response that we are seeing in the Western media. The rebels have been defeated in East Gouta Their fighters and families are being evacuated to Turkish occupied Jarabulus by air-conditioned bus. How would it benefit the Syrian government to make such an attack in this situation?
I hope that you will determine the exact facts of what occurred at Douma before any action is taken.
I recommend that you send someone competent to Syria to make an on the ground investigation.
W. Patrick Lang
Colonel (Ret.) US Army
