As the much-beloved former presidential candidate explained, the odious propaganda smearing Assad as a monster for using chemical weapons is strongly indicative of a manufactured opportunity — a false flag.

By: Claire Bernish / The Free Thought Project   President Donald Trump has vowed to unleash the full force of the U.S. military against Syria after President Bashar al-Assad launched an attack using a toxic chemical believed to be sarin gas in Khan Sheikhoun, killing at least 86 people — including 30 children — and seriously injuring hundreds more.

Horrific images of the dead flooded social media and were put on display by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley for a meeting of the Security Council — all prompting Trump to declare the attack an "affront to humanity," adding,

"When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies … that crosses … many lines."

Of course killing children and other innocents with chemicals crosses lines — and anyone not repulsed and outraged would do the world a favor to examine their conscience.

But did it actually happen?

Did Assad, whose forces, with the assistance of Russia, have successfully pushed back against terrorist fighters — including groups like al-Qaeda affiliates, trained and armed by the U.S. and its allies — really feel attacking his own people out of the blue would be a prudent move at this late hour in the conflict?

 Would the Syrian leader virtually guarantee his own defeat — if not death — by gassing noncombatant civilians, days after the United States loosened its stance on his continued efforts to wrest the war-ravaged nation from the clutches of extremist groups?

Further, would Assad seriously relegate long-sought peace negotiations to the dustbin of diplomacy, literally the day before talks were to take place?

Not likely.