Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad rebels in Syria, a move sought by Moscow
Source: Washington Post
President Trump has decided to end the CIAs covert program to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels battling the government of Bashar al-Assad, a move long sought by Russia, according to U.S. officials.
The program was a central plank of a policy begun by the Obama administration in 2013 to put pressure on Assad to step aside, but even its backers have questioned its efficacy since Russia deployed forces in Syria two years later.
Officials said the phasing out of the secret program reflects Trumps interest in finding ways to work with Russia, which saw the anti-Assad program as an assault on its interests. The shuttering of the program is also an acknowledgment of Washingtons limited leverage and desire to remove Assad from power.
Just three months ago, after the United States accused Assad of using chemical weapons, Trump launched retaliatory airstrikes against a Syrian air base. At the time, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, said that in no way do we see peace in that area with Assad at the head of the Syrian government.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-ends-covert-cia-program-to-arm-anti-assad-rebels-in-syria-a-move-sought-by-moscow/2017/07/19/b6821a62-6beb-11e7-96ab-5f38140b38cc_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_no-name%3Apage%2Fbreaking-news-bar&tid=a_breakingnews&utm_term=.8efd2bcf7103
deminks
(11,017 posts)David__77
(23,503 posts)The swiftest defeat for the Islamic State and al Qaeda will occur with the tactical cooperation of the Syrian government and the opposition Syrian Democratic Forces (not the "rebels" referred by in this article). Indeed, Islamic State is suffering big defeats in easter and central Syria recently. The continued focus on supporting the other non-Islamic State Islamist insurgents could only bolster the strength of Islamic State by diverting the attention of the army of the government forces.
NewJeffCT
(56,829 posts)in that secret 1 hour meeting at the G20...
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,036 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,192 posts)Don't want the tape getting out.
Bleacher Creature
(11,257 posts)This has to be beyond his wildest dreams.
Catmusicfan
(816 posts)This ... I can't even
Oneironaut
(5,524 posts)It's better to have Assad in charge than what we have now.
bluestarone
(17,030 posts)BULL SHIT
Oneironaut
(5,524 posts)Of the rebels we trained that weren't corrupt, most either got themselves killed or ran away. We never should have been there in the first place. It was Obama's biggest blunder.
NCDem777
(458 posts)Dems would be in the White House now.
Getting involved in more moronic ME conflicts lost us a lot of anti-war voters to other parties.
Not to mention the refugee crisis that wouldn't have existed if not but for us prolonging the war. Assad would have just smashed the Islamist rebels and it would have been back to normal.
And can we just be honest for a minute? The majority of these "rebels" aren't fighting for democracy. They're just mad that Assad is a secular psychopath rather than a religious one.
bluestarone
(17,030 posts)i feel the blunder was not arming the rebels right away. This would have made Russia think twice about getting involved. But yea he did screwup, but not the way you say. America needs to continue to be the light of the world!! That's why i'm proud to be an American!! Assad needed to be stopped!! Now Iraq, THAT'S a whole new beast that i totally disagreed with!!!
NCDem777
(458 posts)just want an Iran-style theocracy. They're not out to make a thriving democracy. They just want to put women in Burkas at gunpoint.
bahrbearian
(13,466 posts)It's insane to keep arming the Middle East ,ban all weapon sales and give aways.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)Syria is a clusterfuck.
pansypoo53219
(20,995 posts)snort
(2,334 posts)Pooties asshole is squeaky clean.
NCDem777
(458 posts)The sooner we stop trying to pick winners and losers in that region the better. For us anyway.