Syria chemical weapons attack not ordered by Assad, says German press

President Bashar al-Assad did not personally order last month's chemical weapons attack near Damascus that has triggered calls for US military intervention, and blocked numerous requests from his military commanders to use chemical weapons against regime opponents in recent months, a German newspaper has reported , citing unidentified, high-level national security sources.

Lets assume this report to be true. By claiming that Assad is responsible for the unapproved actions of his subordinates would be the same as saying that Bush was directly responsible for the crimes committed by US troops in Iraq. If one isn't willing to "take it to the top" when such events are done by US personnel then how can it be justified in Syria?