than war you have to hustle the facts. I'm reminded of the recent claims of Tactical Nukes in Yemen.

This is shit. And I agree with your suggestion: History IS repeating itself.

The report later refers to an "individual" ("...the individual said...&quot , i.e., this anonymous "US official," then:

The US government's position continues to be that it is investigating claims of chemical weapons use in Iraq and Syria, but the official speaking to the BBC said that many intelligence agencies now believe there is now enough evidence to back up these claims.

The official requested anonymity because that person was not authorised to speak about it publicly.--from the OP

"NOT AUTHORIZED" to speak about it publicly! Then what the !@#$ is this "US official" DOING?

The CIA, on behalf of US military profiteers, has to somehow justify all that expensive weaponry raining down on civilians in Syria and elsewhere, AND shuttled in to "the rebels" in Syria to overthrow a government that our military and corporate profiteers don't like. This shit has been going on for more than half a century--the CIA/MIC manufacturing wars for war profiteers, who should have been demobilized and defunded after WW II and never were, alas. They've grown into a monster. And this is a good example of how that monster perpetuates itself, and gets bigger and bigger.

The mustard gas "cell" is probably a CIA cell, if there is any reality to it at all.

I'm so sick of this shit. I've seen these lies too many times in my long life. Believe me, the CIA created "IS" just as they created Al Qaeda. They created this horrible chaos in the Middle East, just as they created it in Vietnam, Colombia, Honduras, north Africa and elsewhere--all for profiteering in military hardware and systems or profiteering from hijacked resources, slave labor and coopted governments.

"Curveball" was just the latest in a lo-o-o-ong line of warmongering LIARS within our own government. And I'd sure like to know if this "unauthorized US official" is speaking for President Obama, or trying to force him into more and more war.

Evidence is mounting that [so-called] Islamic State (IS) [group] is using chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria – and yet this egregious crime, which once used to be a “red line” for the rest of the world, has yet to provoke a proportionate response.

One the most compelling accusations so far is a recent report that the terrorist group used mustard gas in Marea, a Syrian town near Aleppo. No-one was killed, but around 30 people were treated for severe chemical injuries. One of the victims was a five-day-old baby. The United Nations is currently setting up an investigation into the attack, but given the seriousness of what may be a full-on chemical campaign, it all feels like too little, too late.

The world’s efforts to address the Assad regime’s chemical attacks, which spurred a diplomatic push to peacefully dismantle the stockpile, turned out to be shortlived. Assad continues to use chlorine to this day, and the US has not done anything to stop it. This is because Obama does not actually want to be involved, chemical weapons or not.

The same applies to IS. Where’s the incentive for the US to respond? Obama is far from keen to put “boots on the ground” in Syria or Iraq – and taking the alleged chemical attacks as seriously as he did the Assad stockpile only increases the pressure on him to intervene. No wonder he doesn’t want to talk about what’s happening.

http://www.juancole.com/2015/09/campaign-chemical-international.html

was from another link to The Telegraph.
Dated 18 months ago.

Since Russia is now ...reportedly...boots on the ground in Syria, maybe they will find some reliable evidence.

Unfortunately, our gov. has lost its credibility with me when it comes to pointing fingers at the ME.

As a rule, when I hear of "news" attributed to un named source, I tend to dismiss it.
When journalism was real, back in the day, the rule was you had to have at least 3 verifiable sources.
In fact, the need for those sources was one of the issue to the whole Washington Post investigation of Watergate.

Security Council unanimously adopted resolution in August approving a joint investigation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Investigators will be charged with determining who is responsible for the attacks, which could lead to their being sanctioned by the Security Council. But any such sanctions would require a new resolution, which Russia could veto. According to diplomats, Moscow wanted guarantees on several points, notably that the sovereignty of its Syrian ally would be respected, and on the mission’s financing. The Syrian government is supposed to cooperate fully with the investigators.

Isis is suspected of having attacked Kurdish fighters with sarin gas last month in Iraq and in northern Syria.

The United States, Britain and France accuse the Syrian army of carrying out chemical attacks, including several with chlorine gas.

Russia, which has always protected its Syrian ally from its permanent, veto-wielding seat on the Security Council, contends there is no proof against Syria.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/11/un-to-hold-inquiry-on-syria-chemical-attacks-after-russia-lifts-objections-say-diplomats

It sounds like the UN believes that chemical attacks occurred and that the UN "investigators will be charged with determining who is responsible for the attacks".

Rather have someone qualified FROM the UN than a dupe like Powell lying TO the UN.

remove chemical weapons was "shortlived" In fact, the US/Russian agreement removed over 620 tons of chemical weapons and their precursors. This was all the declared CW. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/08/18/declared-syrian-chemical-weapon-stockpile-now-completely-destroyed/ Note that even then the US noted that there was more to do. 620 tons is nothing to belittle - and given how Syria became ever more a mess, isn't it good that 620 tons of very bad stuff was destroyed?

As to chlorine being used, while it is obviously true that they are using it as a chemical weapon, there are many non weapon uses of chlorine and it was not among the items removed. In addition, many many other means are being used by all sides to kill people.