US general says Syria action could be 'more substantial than thought'

[David__77]

Source: Telegraph

General Jack Keane, a former vice chief of staff of the US Army, told BBC Radio 4 that he had spoken to senior Republican senators who had been briefed by the US president on Monday, and had been assured that Mr Obama planned to do significant damage to the forces of Bashar al-Assad.

The Obama administration has previously said that military strikes would not be aimed at toppling Assad's government nor altering the balance of the conflict. Instead, the White House has suggested, they would be intended to punish Assad for the alleged gas attack in Damascus on Aug 21 and to reinstate Washington's "red line" against the use of chemical weapons.

But Gen. Keane said he understood Mr Obama was planning a more substantial intervention in Syria than had previously been thought, with increased support for the opposition forces, including training from US troops.

He said the plans could involve "much more substance than we were led to believe".

...

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10282697/US-general-says-Syria-action-could-be-more-substantial-than-thought.html

[maddezmom]

1. Doesn't sound "limited" at all

This is a terrible development.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. "including training from US troops"! That's exactly how we started in Viet Nam.

[dipsydoodle]

6. That's also how the issues in Georgia started regarding Ossetia

when Georgia decided it should occupy Ossetia - US training and arms from Israel. Soon as that went pear shaped the Israeli government blocked their MIC from supplying any further arms.

[dipsydoodle]

3. There's been mention elsewhere

regarding the manner in which the WH leaks news to suit its agenda and I'm guessing this is an example given the origin to be a BBC interview.

For the avoidance of doubt : The Telegraph is broadsheet - not tabloid.

[Doctor_J]

18. Could be another trial balloon

This admin does that alot

[onyourleft]

4. I think many here...

...have suspected this from the beginning.

[bigdarryl]

5. Oh no this Government wouldn't lie

That was meant to be sarcastic

[djean111]

7. I cannot fathom anyone being fool enough to not have assumed and expected this. n/t

[durablend]

10. You can't?

You must've missed all the budding keyboard warriors here parroting the OFA memo (slap on the wrist with a couple of missiles then cocktails afterward!)

[NCarolinawoman]

29. Ed Schultz opened my eyes when he said that the "couple of missiles" was really about

200!!!

[Ghost Dog]

8. Oh Fuck.

... Looks like time to renew the stake in the Brent Oil Price, then.....

[center][/center]

[BumRushDaShow]

9. "he had spoken to senior Republican senators"

And DU falls for it lock, stock, and barrel.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Of course they intend total war.

This administration is made up largely of those who promoted and executed the Iraq War, the CIC is different but the rest all voted for or promoted the 'we have to shock and awe because of WMDs' thing, which did not work out well and which was based on lies .

[Schema Thing]

12. yeah, just like they went for total war in Libya!

and the way they've amped up the war in Iraq!


complete and total tools of the MIC, the Obama administration.

[Democat]

13. A republican senator attacking Obama?

Why do most posters in this thread believe the republican source over Obama?

[shawn703]

14. It fits their narrative, of course. nt

[David__77]

15. The senator? Or the general?

The general claims to be relaying what was said by a Republican source. I would expect the Pentagon civilian leadership to keep control over the utterances of generals. Unless of course this is a planned "disclosure."

[karynnj]

24. He is a FORMER general

This puts this down to hearsay - admittedly from people with some indirect connections. (ie Obama spoke to McCain and Graham - and AT BEST McCain or Graham spoke to this guy - though because he did not mention them - he could have spoken to any Republican - in Congress or out who heard what McCain or Graham said.

[Orrex]

16. We've got a fourth-hand assertion by a *former* Army vice-chief of staff?

Stop the presses!

[Doctor_J]

17. That strange feeling of deja vu

But wait - Assad gassed his own people.

[jakeXT]

19. President Gains McCain’s Backing on Syria Attack

WASHINGTON — The White House’s aggressive push for Congressional approval of an attack on Syria appeared to have won the tentative support of one of President Obama’s most hawkish critics, Senator John McCain, who said Monday that he would back a limited strike if the president did more to arm the Syrian rebels and the attack was punishing enough to weaken the Syrian military.

In an hourlong meeting at the White House, said Mr. McCain, Republican of Arizona, Mr. Obama gave general support to doing more for the Syrian rebels, although no specifics were agreed upon. Officials said that in the same conversation, which included Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, Mr. Obama indicated that a covert effort by the United States to arm and train Syrian rebels was beginning to yield results: the first 50-man cell of fighters, who have been trained by the C.I.A., was beginning to sneak into Syria.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/world/middleeast/syria.html?_r=0

[davidpdx]

20. I still think we should send Carter over there

Tell the Russians and the Chinese that they need to get Assad to the table. That's the way to reverse this away from military action.

[David__77]

21. It's the opposition that won't come to the table.

The government already said months ago that they would negotiate unconditionally.

[davidpdx]

23. Maybe they think because we've said we won't topple Assad that it is better off not talking

They might have to face the facts that if the chemical weapons were used by Assad's forces that many thousands of lives could be in danger. Putting your fingers in your ears and screaming "we don't want to talk to you" is not very productive.

[karynnj]

22. Note Republicans said and FORMER general - yet everyone is treating this as fact

ignoring the repeated statements of the President.

[workinclasszero]

25. Mission Creep

Starts with lobbing a few missiles and dropping some bombs.

Ends with decade long, boots on the ground quagmire and a steady stream of body-bags coming back to the USA.

Also the living survivors with shattered minds and missing limbs.

But fuck why worry? Lets start shooting missiles off! Its worked so well in the past!

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. operative word...

"could"

[HooptieWagon]

27. Just great.

If Assad is toppled, the rebels start fighting among themselves, so sectarian violence drags out for decades, as in Iraq. US will have to have peace-keeping force on the ground. And if Al Qaida-backed rebels end up in control, AQ has their own country....with tanks, aircraft, ships, a seat at the UN....positioned exactly between Israel and an NATO ally. God help us.

[NCarolinawoman]

28. Obama, go back and study history!!!

Many of us were young but we lived this! Listen to the military brass who are schooled in history! Not McCain or Graham or your clueless civilian national security advisers!!!

[Red Knight]

30. Could be part of a negotiation with congress

to get the hawks on board.

Mccain and Graham said they would not support it unless it was a serious effort to get rid of Assad.

My guess is Obama is back at the table with the tough negotiating tactic of giving them whatever they want.