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 fighters—a 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 ...
You mean liked they armed the rebels that are now ISIS??
They can always send Lindseed and McCain, then they will blame GOP once Obama farks it up.
The only ones fighting ISIS is the Syrian army. Why do we want to arm anyone else?
Arm the moderates - the ones who will cut your head off only half way.
Simple. Obongo and McInsane will pick the ones most likely to attack the homeland
95% of the FSA is ISIS.
Given the “O” administration track record and his IQ ... maybe he’ll flip a coin...
The total of this administration’s IQ squared couldn’t make minus zero.
By the royalty which pRes_ _ent Obola wants
on all Ambassador or sold-reporter snuff films.
Only a fool would trust a moslem and give them weapons and training.
Carpet bomb anything that moves,blow up the oilfields that they use for income, destroy anything with wheels and let these animals ride donkeys and camels into battle.
All this can be accomplished from the air.
Anybody agitating for a “coalition” of “moderate” rebels is out of their freaking mind at best and a subversive traitor at worst.
If Assad goes down the bloodbath will be a multiple of what it already has been.
To thwe matter at hand who knows if they arm any rebels? It swounds good and after all thats all that matters to Odumnbo.
With all the flagburning, anti-American chants, sexual assaults, violent thugs in sandals and rioting it’s hard to tell the difference between Syrian militants and Occupiers.
Sec Def Hagel was clear...they’ll only arm the Syrians who oppose both Assad and ISIS......
if my guess is correct, Saudi Arabia will help us figure it out.
Listen to Israel.
Don’t arm any of them.
Weaken the strong ones.
No worry, John Kerry is in charge!!
” Syrian who is a nationalist and is fighting for a secular, democratic, and inclusive state”
That is impossible with these people. Other than “democratic”, Assad is better than anything else they will get. “Democratic” is mob rule for these people.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.