Amongst the violence of current Syrian crisis one issue of significant international concern has been the alleged use of chemical weapons. As such a number of assessments have been publicly released, in part to garner popular public support for some sort of international action against the Assad regime. The Syrian crisis is however a very complex international relations problem often made worse by simplistic examination of the issues. 
Task: 
You are to critically analyse two seperate reports/intelligence assessments on Syrian chemical weapons use/capability. Within the context of intelligence assessment how useful/valid are these reports. Notwithstanding they are unclassified reports. Compare and contrast these reports with what the intelligence analysis literature would lead us to expect from quality intelligence analysis. Consider the teaching of both Clark and McDowell, is what they promote in terms of analytic product evident? 

Your report may be written in essay format with appropriate headings. The report is to be concise, with a word limit of 1500 words not including references. evidence must be cited and an appropriate reference page included. 
Report 1: http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/syria/chemical/ 
Report 2: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/30/government-assessment-syrian-government-s-use-chemical-weapons-august-21 
Submission: 
This report is to be submitted via blackboard by midnight Tuesday 11 March. 

SIGNIFICANT REFERENCES 
Bloch, J. (2003). Global intelligence. London: Zed Books. 
Friedman, G. (2009). The next 100 years a forecast for the 21st century. New York: Doubleday. 
Goldman, J. (Ed.). (2009). Ethics of spying a reader for the intelligence professional vol 2. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. 
Johnston, R. (2005). Analytic culture in the US intelligence community: An ethnographic study. Washington: Center for the Study of Intelligence. 
McDowell, D. (2008). Strategic intelligence for practitioners, managers and users. Lanham: Scarecrow Press.