In UN return, veteran diplomats Hans von Sponeck and Lawrence Wilkerson confront OPCW Syria cover-up episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 19, 2021 · 32 MIN

In UN return, veteran diplomats Hans von Sponeck and Lawrence Wilkerson confront OPCW Syria cover-up

from Pushback with Aaron Mate · host Pushback with Aaron Maté

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate In remarks to the United Nations Security Council, two veteran, retired diplomats -- Hans von Sponeck of Germany and Lawrence Wilkerson of the US -- confront the OPCW and powerful state backers about the OPCW's Syria cover-up scandal. Hans Von Sponeck is the former UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. He spent 32 years as a UN official, from 1958 to 2000, when he resigned in protest of the US-led sanctions on Iraq. “The manner in which this serious controversy has been handled by OPCW management… has sought to cover up any serious questioning of the OPCW through stonewalling and unacceptable smear tactics,” Sponeck says. “The Security Council can not be surprised that there is increasing public pressure for UN leadership to find an unbiased resolution of this troubling controversy.” Lawrence Wilkerson is a retired Army Colonel who served as Chief of Staff to Secretary State Colin Powell. In 2003, Wilkerson helped prepare Powell's infamous speech to the United Nations making the phony case for invading Iraq. Wilkerson has since renounced those Iraq war fabrications. "This OPCW business really needs to get settled," Wilkerson says. "Here we have an egregious situation that from everything I can, really calls on people of concern to straighten it out." Sponeck and Wilkerson are among the signatories of a Statement of Concern about the Douma scandal, joined by notable global voices including five former OPCW officials. In a podcast-exclusive edition of Pushback, we hear both Sponeck and Wilkerson's UN comments. Related: At UN, Aaron Maté debunks OPCW’s Syria lies and confronts US, UK on cover-up https://thegrayzone.com/2021/04/18/at-un-aaron-mate-debunks-opcws-syria-lies-and-confronts-us-uk-on-cover-up/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 19, 2021

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

In UN return, veteran diplomats Hans von Sponeck and Lawrence Wilkerson confront OPCW Syria cover-up

0:00 32:55

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Pushback with Aaron Mate?

This episode is 32 minutes long.

When was this Pushback with Aaron Mate episode published?

This episode was published on April 19, 2021.

Can I download this Pushback with Aaron Mate episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!