French Intel Report: Obama Deal Failure, Syria Maintains Chemical Weapons Arsenal

A declassified French intelligence report showing the April 4 sarin attack in Syria was carried out by the Assad regime also underscores the failure of the Obama administration chemical weapons deal.

The Syrian government was supposed to give up its chemical weapons arsenal in 2014 under the deal promoted by the Obama administration, but the French report, posted by The Daily Caller, came to a different conclusion.

Using evidence from the deadly April 4 attack, the French evaluation found that not only was Assad’s regime behind the massacre, but that measures to ensure Assad gave up his stockpile were inadequate.

“France assesses that major doubts remain as to the accuracy, exhaustiveness and sincerity of the decommissioning of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal,” the 6-page report states.

“In particular, France assesses that Syria has maintained a capacity to produce or stock sarin, despite its commitment to destroy all stocks and capacities. Lastly, France assesses that Syria has not declared tactical munitions (grenades and rockets) such as those repeatedly used since 2013.”

The Assad regime was required to disclose and relinquish its chemical weapons stockpile as part of a 2013 agreement, partially facilitated by Assad’s ally Russia. The Obama administration promoted the agreement and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the international body that monitors such accords, called the agreement a success, the Daily Caller noted.

“France informed the OPCW that Syria’s explanations on the quantities of [sarin] declared — approximately 20 tons — as having been used in tests or lost in accidents were exaggerated,” said the report.

Additionally, French intelligence noted attempts on the part of Syria to acquire “dozens of tons” of isopropanol, a key component in sarin, since 2014.

Source: newsmax – French Intel Report: Obama Deal Failure, Syria Maintains Chemical Weapons Arsenal

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Steven Mnuchin: Tax Plan Aimed to Help Middle Class, Not Rich

President Donald Trump’s tax plan unveiled Wednesday aims to help middle-income Americans by creating jobs and growing the economy, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

The plan also is about making tax filing simpler by limiting most deductions, while doubling the personal deduction, Mnuchin told Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

“The effective tax rate will not be a reduction for the rich,” Mnuchin said, answering a common criticism of Democrats.

Carlson asked if that meant the rich would pay higher taxes.

“We’ll see,” Mnuchin said. “It won’t be a reduction. It is about creating jobs.”

The purpose of the plan, which is short on details, is middle-class tax cuts and lowering taxes on businesses to make them more competitive, Mnuchin said.

“We have high business rates; we tax on worldwide income,” he said. “This is all about changing that. This is about massive reductions in business rates, for corporations, and for small businesses. Many studies show that 70 percent of the tax burden falls on American workers.”

The secretary said he would hope that would help lure Democratic support.

“This is good for America, good for the economy,” he said.

Trump’s overall goal is creating growth whether that be through trade policies, regulatory relief or tax cuts, Mnuchin said.

The plan will be hard to pass before summer, though the administration wants to “do this fast,” he said.

Source: newsmax – Steven Mnuchin: Tax Plan Aimed to Help Middle Class, Not Rich

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