Is there a way of determining unambiguously where the material was made? Contaminants or byproducts or isotope signatures or something? Or is the statement that they can’t prove where it was made just “water is wet”?
(At the very least, I would think you’d need samples from potential synthesis sites.)
Why are all options including overt or cover military operations not on the table as a response to this brazen Russian chemical weapons attack with a lethal nerve agent on civilians in Britain, our closest NATO ally. Our responsibilities to come to Britain’s aid under NATO are more formal and important than our responsibilities to the Saudis and the Israelis. Our response – a diplomatic crisis? That’s sad. Why is our military doing nothing about it? Why are we so afraid of Russia?
Nuclear weapons?
The United States military has the best arsenal of nuclear and chemical weapons. Our military can deal with Russia, whose “economy is smaller than California’s, smaller than Texas’, smaller than New York state. Russia is barely larger than Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania”. (https://alfinnextlevel.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/us-states-vs-rest-of-world-3-states-w-larger-economies-than-russia/).
The Russian habit of assassinating citizens whom it deems traitorous is despicable.
We would never do that. Ahmed Farouq? Ahmed Al Awaki? Adam Gadahn?
Oh, we would and we do.
We also endorse the Israeli assassination of various Palestinian and Iranians without a whimper and have ourselves “rendered” numerous suspects without process or trial, torturing some to death.
The Russians are not the only things on the block.
Go ahead and wave our missiles and our brave soldiers. Then explain to the world why we could not succeed in Viet Nam, In Iraq or in Afghanistan, none of whom approach Russia in population, wealth or armaments. Bravado is not the same as strategy. If our conflict is strictly economic and territorial, arms may carry the day. But if it is ideological and philosophical, the contest can not be won by force.