Trump blinks in Syrian game of chicken with Russia

US President Donald Trump left his European allies high and dry on Thursday as he signalled a last-minute swerve away from bombing Syria.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were left looking like turkeys after Mr Trump blinked in his game of chicken with Russia.

“Never said when an attack on Syria would take place,” Mr Trump tweeted early on Thursday morning, Washington time. “Could be very soon or not so soon at all!”

The three European leaders had backed military action over dubious claims ― by the US-British funded and founded 'White Helmets' ― of a chemical weapons attack on the Army of Islam terrorist group's stronghold in Douma, a few miles northeast of the capital Damascus.

In the same tweet, Mr Trump abruptly shifted focus to the near-total defeat of Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq, in which Syrian, Russian, Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces played a leading role. “In any event, the United States, under my administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS,” he added. “Where is our 'Thank you America?'”

On Thursday a team from the UN's Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) set off for Syria to examine the claims. The Syrian Foreign Ministry warned Western powers were trying to “meddle in its work,” while Russia said its forces guaranteed the mission's safety.

Russian military police entered the site of the alleged attack earlier this week following the Army of Islam's surrender of Douma in return for safe passage to the Turkish border.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary General Jim “Mad Dog” Mattis admitted to Congress that the Pentagon had no hard evidence the claimed attack even happened, only the claims of pro-terrorist social media users.

“I cannot tell you that we had evidence, even though we had a lot of media and social media indicators that either chlorine or sarin were used,” he told the House Armed Services Committee.

In a cautionary note, he added that the strategic concern was: “How do we keep this from escalating out of control, if you get my drift."

"We're still assessing the intelligence, ourselves and our allies. We're still working on this," Gen Mattis said, contradicting Mr Macron's claim yesterday that “We have proof” the Syrian armed forces used chlorine gas on Douma.

Asked if France would join in with US aggression against Syria, he said only: We will need to take decisions in due course.” But he added, seemingly without irony: “Regimes that think they can do everything they want, including the worst things that violate international law, cannot be allowed to act.”

In London, Mrs May chaired a special cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, which she said agreed “on the need to take action” and that it was "highly likely" the Syrian government was responsible for the unconfirmed incident.

Ms Merkel, while claiming it was “obvious” Syria had not destroyed its chemical weapons as previously certified, said: “Germany will not take part in possible military action.” But she added that “everything is being done to send a signal that this use of chemical weapons is not acceptable.”

In recent days Mr Trump had talked up a repeat of last year's massive, yet ineffective, attack with 59 cruise missiles on the pretext of a similar claimed nerve gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun, a central town still occupied by the al-Qaida affiliated Nusra Front, now branding itself as Hetesh.

Russia had threatened to shoot down any cruise missiles launched against Syria, where it has a small air force, air defence and Spetsnaz commando contingent. Most of the US missiles launched in last April's attack never reached their targets, although Moscow was silent on why.

“Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!',” Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday ― in a clear sop to the powerful US arms industry. “You shouldn’t be partners with a gas killing animal who kills his people and enjoys it!” he said, the second time he had used the insult against elected Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a week.

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