Vanessa Beeley is a British blogger and daughter of former diplomat Harold Beeley. She is one of the most active bloggers in the Syria debate, always defending president Assad. The Guardian reported about two tools called Graphika and Menczer’s Hoaxy tool which both identify Beeley as among the most influential disseminators of content about the White Helmets.
In 2016, Beeley had a two-hour meeting with Assad in Damascus as part of a US Peace Council delegation, which she described on Facebook as her “proudest moment”. Beeley presents herself to her readers as an independent journalist.
Beeley is seen here standing next to president Assad.
After BBC producer Riam Dalati on February 14 on his personal Twitter account made a couple of statements on the alleged chemical attack in Douma in April last year social media trolls and Assad apologists went ballistic. Both in an angry and excited way.
Vanessa Beeley and Whitney Webb at February 18 publised an article on the Dalati Tweets which was published by Mintpress.
Lets see what Dalati wrote on Twitter. His first Tweet refered to this article published in The Intercept written by James Harkin. It is generally seen by both Assad supporters and Assad critics as a balanced article.
He also writes: The ATTACK DID HAPPEN. Hard to miss this one.
Vanessa Beeley however completely ignores this Tweet. She and co-author Webb simply ignore the fact that Dalati wrote “the ATTACK DID HAPPEN’. It appears she does not want her readers to know that Dalati confirms, based on his six months of investigation, an chemical attack in Douma did happen. Sarin was not used but OPCW could present soon in a final report evidence chlorine was used.
If you are interested in all Tweets by Dalati check archive.org. This website was able to archive the Tweets just before Dalati blocked his Twitter account.
Beeley does, not surprisingly, spent a lot effort to make sure her readers understand that Dalati wrote that the hospital scene was staged. The fact that Dalati failed to present any evidence for the statement is not mentioned by Beeley and seems not important for the journalist which presents herself to her readers as an independent journalist.
Ignored as well are the horrible images showing dead bodies in the apartment building which was hit by one of the barrels. The barrel shows grid marks which match the grid pattern of a metal fence which was attached to the balcony. You won’t read it in the reports by independant journalist Beeley.
Beeley and Webb also refer to a second article. It is an article refered to by Dalati as well in his Tweet. Again we see the same pattern here. Important and relevant information is ignored by Beeley and Webb. For example the certainty of Theodore Postol that both barrels dropped on houses in Douma in April 2017 were launched from the sky by the Syrian military.
Ted Postol is not easy to convince about the usage of chemical weapons. He has been active in many debates in which he had heated discussions with Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat. Postol confirming Syria military is responsible for launching barrels cannot be ignored.
Ignoring facts is not typical for Assad supporters. Syrian member of Parliament Fares Shehabi also did not mention the Tweet of Dalati in which he confirmed the attack did happen.
I leave it to the reader to conclude why Vanessa Beeley ignores the fact Dalati stated ‘the attack did happen’ as well as she ignores Ted Postol stated both barrels were launched by the Syrian military.
Feit of fake 