According to Angel Rabasa of the RAND Corp., we really need to start directly arming the Syrian rebels. How do we do that without bolstering the influence and lethality of extremist groups? Simple, he says: just “establish as soon as possible a task force to organize and supervise a train and equip program for the Syrian opposition forces.”
This sounds a lot like the supposed “vetting process” the U.S. has already been conducting while the CIA funnels weapons and aid from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to the rebel fighters.
Rabasa argues that the “train and equip task force” he was a part of for Bosnian fighters in the 1990s worked great, so it should work for Syria too. Well, that it worked great is arguable. But either way, I don’t think it’s arguable that the situation on the ground in Bosnia back then is at all comparable to the situation in Syria now.
The much vaunted “vetting process” consists of untrustworthy, third-party sources, and intelligence officials told the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times as far back as a year ago that the truth is that the U.S. doesn’t know who is getting the money and weapons. That is to say, extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda have been getting the bulk of the aid.
According to Julien Barnes-Dacey and Daniel Levy, in a policy brief for the European Council on Foreign Relations, “it is unrealistic to expect that weapons can be guaranteed to end up in the hands of pro-Western actors. The U.S. and its allies were unable to achieve the micro-management of weapons control in Iraq and Afghanistan, even with a massive physical presence there, so it is unlikely that they will fare better doing this with a light footprint.”
Arming the rebels also creates “a real danger that these weapons could find their way into sectarian tensions in neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Iraq, supplying oxygen for the outbreak of an arc of sectarian conflict across the Levant.” Furthermore, it is likely cause the Assad regime to escalate violence, not the other way around.
With a bill authorizing the direct arming of Syrian rebels having already passed in Senate committee last week, it’s worrisome that advice like the kind offered by Rabasa might be followed by the Obama administration soon enough.
What kind of a Syria would we be promoting at that point?
According to reports, rebel-controlled areas in Syria – mostly dominated by Jabhat al-Nusra – have started to set up cruel sharia law systems. Armed militias rule these areas and dish out harsh punishments like extra-judicial executions and torture in the midst of frightened local residents.
So when militia leaders aren’t cutting out and eating the hearts of their enemies, they’re setting up the most extreme, doctrinal Sunni Islamic system (exported mostly from our Gulf allies, ironically) that is antithetical not just to the West but to freedom and democracy. And we want to send them arms?
Sounds like a great plan.
Wait I know what "we" do, give the Free Syrian Cannibal Army John McCain. McCain and his little pal Lindsey Graham. The 'dynamic warmongering duo' will open up a can of whoop-ass on Bashar al-Assad and that'll teach him good. McCain and Graham are natural born killers and there's not much doubt about that.
The rebels have no shortage of light arms, and as can be seen in the photo – both sides are using Russian weapons in this conflict. All this talk of arming the rebels is just fatuous posturing by the EU and rebel-sympathizers in the US. What the rebels really want are armored vehicles, tanks and aerial support.
Do they have proper permits for those "ASSAULT" weapons??? I also think those Magazines are not legal also!!!
Assad has done more to combat Islamic terrorism in the past two years, than anything the West has done in its wholly fake "war on terror". I think it's clear now, that the unhinged corporate-imperialists of the dying West, goaded on by Zio-Nazi Jewish supremacist nutcases, are in an increasingly open proxy alliance with Islamic jihadis with the despicable aim of using them as foot soldiers in the quest for "global domination". I wish the Syrian government and people good luck in defeating the nefarious conspiracy against them!
"while allowing those from pro-jihad warmongers and Jewish supremacist nutcases to stand,"
Mr. Parbes,
Those comments don't "stand." They get mocked for their comedic and blatant bigotry. We do block them when they cross certain lines but for the most part, the racialists are laughed off.
The best blog always in th? nh?a serves information regarding products ads
blah
Appreciate it due to this great write-up in this article, you understand of which health insurance and it is conditioning points are very important to call home wholesome living. You should check out buyusapeptides for more info and also support.
Thanks due to this wonderful document the following, you recognize which health insurance and their conditioning points are necessary to reside in healthful living. Make sure you pay a visit to southchicagoveins for more info in addition to assist.
Abdelmonem al-Said is the head of the militia that kidnapped Libya’s prime minister last month. He proudly stands by his role in the abduction and defiantly announces in press conferences how not scared he is of retribution or punishment, because the government is too weak, Crisp reports.
Abdelmonem al-Said is the head of the militia that kidnapped Libya’s prime minister last month. He proudly stands by his role in the abduction and defiantly announces in press conferences how not scared he is of retribution or punishment, because the government is too weak, Crisp reports. <a title="facebook" href="https://www.google.com">facebook
My friend mentioned to me your blog, so I thought I’d read it for myself. Very interesting insights, will be back for more!
The rebels have no shortage of light arms, and as can be seen in the photo – both sides are using Russian weapons in this conflict. All this talk of arming the rebels is just fatuous posturing by the EU and rebel-sympathizers in the US. What the rebels really want are armored vehicles, tanks and aerial support.
You have raised an important issue..Thanks for sharing..I would like to read more current affairs from this blog..keep posting..
games
Should there be another persuasive post you can share next time, I’ll be surely waiting for it.
facebook
wow, great, I was wondering how to cure acne naturally. and found your site by google, learned a lot, now i’m a bit clear. I’ve bookmark your site and also add rss. keep us updated.
wk?adka antykoncepcyjna