Obama Close To Authorizing Military Training Of Syrian Rebels

[big_dog]

Last edited Tue May 27, 2014, 04:34 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: Hufffington Post/The World Post

President Barack Obama is close to authorizing a mission led by the U.S. military to train moderate Syrian rebels to fight the regime of Bashar al-Assad and al Qaeda-linked groups, a move that would expand Washington's role in the conflict, U.S. officials said.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/syria_n_5397353.html

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word has it that he will make it official at West Point grad speech tomorrow

[JDPriestly]

1. "the regime of Bashar al-Assad and al Qaeda-linked groups"

Who else is there in Syria? Supporters of Saudi Arabia?

Why are we getting involved there? I know there are lots of victims. But are there any good guys fighting for the victims? i don't think so. Why should we be involved in yet another battle in which WE CANNOT WIN.

This is Afghanistan all over. No good guys are there. Forget it.

[Maedhros]

2. What could go wrong?

I'm sure the situation in Syria will only improve once we start arming a third faction.

[big_dog]

5. pbs.com & debka/israel have reported its already started- according to google news search

http://www.debka.com/article/23949/Obama-about-turns-on-Syria-US-military-training-and-weapons-for-moderate-Syrian-rebels-

[jakeXT]

17. I think it's on Frontline today

WASHINGTON — With reports indicating that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad are gaining ground in that country’s brutal civil war, moderate Syrian rebels have told a visiting journalist that the United States is arranging their training in Qatar.

In a documentary to be aired Tuesday night, the rebels describe their clandestine journey from the Syrian battlefield to meet with their American handlers in Turkey and then travel on to Qatar, where they say they received training in the use of sophisticated weapons and fighting techniques, including, one rebel said, “how to finish off soldiers still alive after an ambush.”

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/foreign-affairs-defense/syria-arming-the-rebels/syrian-rebels-describe-u-s-backed-training-in-qatar/#disqus_thread

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Assad and the Syrians he represents aren't going anywhere.

This will just guarantee that more Syrians die for a lost cause.

[OnlinePoker]

4. FFS, would the U.S. please stop interfering in other countries for a change? n/t

[Wolf Frankula]

6. Curious What the Admin would Say

If the teabaggers got foreign training and money? Would we not hear screams of outrage?

Wolf

[valerief]

7. So the plan is to arm and train the Syrian rebels and in a few years invade Syria for a decade.

That's how it works, right?

[big_dog]

9. add iran and defending the saudis to the gameplan

if we are stuck there again

[alsame]

10. And the Jordanian border. nt

[kitt6]

8. Pitiful.

Wuss.

[albino65]

12. This is bullshit n/t

[jakeXT]

13. We always preferred the bad guys who weren't backed by Iran to the bad guys who were backed by Iran

‘Israel prefers Bashar Assad to Islamist rebels’

A weakened Bashar Assad is preferable for Syria and the whole region to a takeover by rebel forces increasingly ruled by Islamic extremists, Israeli officials reportedly said overnight Friday-Saturday.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-prefers-assad-to-islamist-rebels

In public shift, Israel calls for Assad's fall

...

"We always wanted Bashar Assad to go, we always preferred the bad guys who weren't backed by Iran to the bad guys who were backed by Iran,"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/17/us-syria-crisis-israel-idUSBRE98G0DR20130917

Mr. McDonough, who had perhaps the closest ties to Mr. Obama, remained skeptical. He questioned how much it was in America’s interest to tamp down the violence in Syria....Mr. McDonough argued that the status quo in Syria could keep Iran pinned down for years. In later discussions, he also suggested that a fight in Syria between Hezbollah and Al Qaeda would work to America’s advantage.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/denis-mcdonough-caricature-realism-9307

[big_dog]

16. this says to me that O is frustrated by russia

and this is a move to tell them so

[951-Riverside]

14. ...As if this hasnt been happening for over the past 3 years. n/t

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. You are correct, sir.

[Jesus Malverde]

18. They've been training them in Jordan, Turkey and beyond for years...

[Psephos]

19. These are the actions of a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Doesn't say much for the Nobel committee.