Decision to arm Syrian rebels was reached weeks ago, U.S. officials say
Source: Washington Post
President Obamas decision to begin arming the Syrian rebels followed more than a year of internal debate over whether it was worth the dual risks of involving the United States in another war and seeing U.S. weapons fall into the hands of extremist groups among the rebels.
The White House said the final push came this week after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded with high certainty that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces had used chemical weapons against the rebels.
But U.S. officials said that the determination to send weapons had been made weeks ago and that the chemical weapons finding provided fresh justification to act.
As Syrian government forces, with the help of Hezbollah and Iranian militias, began to turn the war in Assads favor after rebel gains during the winter, Obama ordered officials in late April to begin planning what weaponry to send and how to deliver it.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/decision-to-arm-syrian-rebels-was-reached-weeks-ago-us-officials-say/2013/06/14/3cc2d372-d51a-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_singlePage.html
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)As Syrian government forces, with the help of Hezbollah and Iranian militias, began to turn the war in Assads favor after rebel gains during the winter,
Oh, right. It was totally Iran that turned the tide. No other country (*cough*Russia*cough*) could possibly have had anything to do with that.
edit: The risk of some small arms falling into the hands of al-Qaeda is manageable. The risk of "getting involved in another war in the Middle East", which, as it would be on Israel's doorstep, would likely be known as "World War III", is not.
Factoid: There is a Biblical prophecy that reads "Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap".
red dog 1
(27,816 posts)"U.S. Military Support in Syria Will Lead to Full-Scale War, Critics Warn"
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/06/14-4/
From the Common Dreams article:
An unnamed "Western diplomat" told Reuters Friday that the U.S. is considering a no-fly zone in Syria.
"Washington is considering a no-fly zone to help Assad's opponents," one diplomat said
He said it would be limited "time-wise and area-wise, possibly near the Jordanian border,"
giving no further details.
John2
(2,730 posts)valuable resources, such as Oil? Religion on the part of the Saudis, Qatar and Turkey may not be the only factor playing into taking over Syria. This is all about controlling resources by a few people. Some of these people are playing the sympathetic card with Human Rights abuses. Especially the three mentioned.
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)SSDD.
Heil to the Hero !!!
red dog 1
(27,816 posts)From:
The Guardian (UK)
JABHAT AL-NUSRA, AN AL-QAIDA AFFILIATE, CONSOLIDATES POSITION AS SCRAMBLE FOR CONTROL OF WELLS ACCELERATES
"The EU decision to lift Syrian oil sanctions to aid the opposition has accelerated a scramble for control over wells and pipelines in rebel-held areas and helped consolidate the grip of jihadist groups over the country's key resources."
Read more:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/19/eu-syria-oil-jihadist-al-qaida/