Posted on 09/16/2014 11:55:59 AM PDT by Rusty0604
Even assuming President Obama gets the authority he wants, experts say deciding who exactly should get American aid is an exceedingly difficult task. There are vast differences among Syrian rebel fightersa conglomerate of varying ideologies, social backgrounds, and loyalties. And the questions of who exactly is a Syrian moderate, and whether these weapons will fall into the wrong hands, loom large on Capitol Hill.
There isn't a formal definition of a Syrian moderate, said Leila Hilal of the New America Foundation. But implicit in the word, she says, are a few criteria: a Syrian who is a nationalist and is fighting for a secular, democratic, and inclusive state.
That definition leaves a lot of room, Hilal said, and there are ample rebel fighters on the ground. ...determining who exactly fits the "moderate" bill is done on an ad hoc basis.
"One of the problems is that whether or not someone is fighting under an Islamic banner or a Syrian revolutionary flag, they're often working together on different fronts," said Hilal, a senior fellow with New America's International Security Program. "If they're fighting to take over the military base or airport different groups ideologically predisposed will be fighting together."
A political framework is key, she said, rather than handpicking rebels to do the fighting.
"In my mind, in order to mount an effective counterterrorism strategy, you really need a robust nationalist force that isn't just a select group of so-called moderates."
Before the U.S. chooses whom to equip and train, a background check is performed. The Department of Defense works closely with the intelligence community, using all of its databases in the vetting process, according to Commander Elissa Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman. She declined to further detail the process, but said it involves appropriate agencies and departments.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
That would be my first pick.
As usual, the stupid Dementocrats and RINOs are too PC to see that the real problem with terrorism is not with a specific group, it’s with all of Islam. (The evil and ‘intelligent’ Dementocrats/RINOs are actively supporting the establishment of a caliphate and the systematic enslavement and murder of Americans and Christians.) Thus, any serious talk of reducing terrorism should focus on how to destroy Mecca; once the “holy city” is destroyed, Muslims will realize they’ve been lied to and will direct their ire towards their leaders.
A strategy for attacking Mecca should be a litmus test for anyone who wishes to be President.
But the so called moderates have a truce with ISIS.
How Will the U.S. Decide Which Syrian Rebels to Arm?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Obama will post a criteria list,and the arms will go to those who are :
1) completely subservient
2) who will obey any order without question
3) who are followers and never will be leaders
4) and who have absolutely no idea about freedom
These are the Syrians that Obama will arm. Basically he has done the same with the FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security, Border Patrol and is in process of doing the same to the US armed forces. The conversion from free society to community worker state is well under way.
Soon you will have Acorn in your neighborhood.Syria and the levant will evolve into Vietnam II.
Easy...which ones are the sleaziest muslims?
The dork will choose them.
Some bearded savages are worse than others. Some appear good for a while, and then revert back to their savagery.
None of them should be given arms from the USA.
Will he demand that they observe LGBT rights?
Obama will turn Syria into Libya II and the remaining Christians and other non-Muslims will be slaughtered. He will also import thousands of Syrian Muslim “refugees” to the US so they can spread their death cult here, as well. Obama is the great destroyer and bringer of chaos so that Islam can conquerer the infidels.
Arm them both.
This Administration? Magic 8 Ball of course!
Paper, Rock, Scissors?
Yep. It will be a bloodbath if Assad goes down. Assad has been the only one to keep that situation somewhat stable.
Christians had been protected in Syria under Assad. The rebels Obama/McCain want to arm have changed that.
Will he demand that they observe LGBT rights?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Likely so. I mean many of them are fudge packers anyway.
No being alone in the old Syrian fox hole.
They laugh at the stupid McCain, meeting with him and telling him what he wants to hear, only to get our material help. “We can get those stupid Americans to fund our attacks against them!”
He will take weeks being indecisive and then do it his way, which will be wrong.
Then, he will try to blame Bush and Republicans.
To quote H.L.Mencken from 1920
H.L. Mencken (born 1880 - died 1956) was a journalist, satirist, critic and registered Democrat. Mencken wrote the editorial below while working for the Baltimore Evening Sun, which appeared in the July 26,1920 edition. "As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron." - H.L. Mencken, the Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
The soul of the people needs a bath.
vaudine
There is no way to determine who is “moderate” or even what that is. Further there is no way to guarantee that extremists won’t end up with the weapons.
What is the problem????? mclame said he personally “vetted” the moozlums. Has the definition of “vetting” changed? Maybe it now means: they have passed me money under the table.
Exactly.
My point is that it’s a bit difficult to declare either your neutrality or your opposition to both extremes in Syria.
Unless you’re talking with an American arms salesman....
It would make a great SNL skit if it weren’t so sad and serious.
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