The Obama administration originally counted 1 429 victims of the chemical attack in Ghouta, on August 21st 2013, while the French government had only counted 281 [1].

According to Reuters, the official US number could include not only gas victims, but also classic bombing and other death type victims [2].

The agency concludes, by citing Paul Pillar, the former head of US intelligence in the Near-East. According to him, the Obama administration made a mistake by giving a too exact number, especially in the context of a civil war.

Even so, the Obama administration stands it’s ground on one point : for them, the Syrian Arab Army did indeed make use of combat gases against it’s own population.

Translation
Alizée Ville

[1] « Western rationality », by Thierry Meyssan, Al-Watan/Voltaire Network, September 7th 2013.

[2] “Exclusive : U.S. total of Syrian gas deaths could include bomb casualties - sources”, by Mark Hosenball, edited by Marilyn W. Thompson, Peter Henderson and Tim Dobbyn, Reuters, September 12th 2013.