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John Kerry: Less than a quarter of Syrian rebels are jihadists
American Thinker ^ | 09/05/2013 | Rick Moran

Posted on 09/05/2013 6:40:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

House Homeland Security Committee chairman Mike McCaul was "stunned" by Kerry's assertion. The briefings members of Congress had been getting stated that the number was closer to 50% - and that may be lowballing it too.

Reuters calls Mr. Kerry out for his lie:

Secretary of State John Kerry's public assertions that moderate Syrian opposition groups are growing in influence appear to be at odds with estimates by U.S. and European intelligence sources and nongovernmental experts, who say Islamic extremists remain by far the fiercest and best-organized rebel elements.

At congressional hearings this week, while making the case for President Barack Obama's plan for limited military action in Syria, Kerry asserted that the armed opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "has increasingly become more defined by its moderation, more defined by the breadth of its membership, and more defined by its adherence to some, you know, democratic process and to an all-inclusive, minority-protecting constitution.

"And the opposition is getting stronger by the day," Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.

U.S. and allied intelligence sources and private experts on the Syrian conflict suggest that assessment is optimistic.

While the radical Islamists among the rebels may not be numerically superior to more moderate fighters, they say, Islamist groups like the al Qaeda-aligned Nusra Front are better organized, armed and trained.

Kerry's remarks represented a change in tone by the Obama administration, which for more than two years has been wary of sending U.S. arms to the rebels, citing fears they could fall into radical Islamists' hands.


(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; jihadists; kerry; syria
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1 posted on 09/05/2013 6:40:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
It should also be noted that the civilian opposition group - the Syrian National Coalition - is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, described as a "moderate" Islamist organization.
2 posted on 09/05/2013 6:41:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Yeah, John, just the generals, the colonels and the majors. The troops are a mixed lot.


3 posted on 09/05/2013 6:41:41 AM PDT by proxy_user
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To: SeekAndFind

He sounds like such a fricking dufus in those hearings. What a jokes we have in high places.


4 posted on 09/05/2013 6:41:56 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: SeekAndFind

$1 of U.S. Support to 1 Al Qaeda terrorist is too much for me.


5 posted on 09/05/2013 6:42:22 AM PDT by cincinnati65
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To: SeekAndFind

By the time he’s done with his “clarifications”, the number will be closer to 99%.


6 posted on 09/05/2013 6:43:24 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: b4its2late

He should be in prison for the war crimes, he said he committed during the Vietnam War, not Secretary of State.


7 posted on 09/05/2013 6:43:55 AM PDT by FR_addict
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To: b4its2late
Is it just me? Or did anyone notice a change in John Kerry's chin? It has become shorter when he was making the interview rounds last Sunday...

8 posted on 09/05/2013 6:44:28 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

If we stay out of it, that percentage could be cut in half in a year.


9 posted on 09/05/2013 6:44:35 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (The Tea Party was the earthquake, and Chick Fil A the tsunami...100's of aftershocks to come.)
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To: proxy_user
Yep. Maybe. And maybe JFK is just lying to us again.

But let's give him the benefit of the doubt and concede that only 25% of the rebels are jihadis. Which other rebel faction do you think is nearly as well organized?

Did JFK learn anything from the so-called Arab spring in Egypt?

10 posted on 09/05/2013 6:44:45 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: SeekAndFind
“The briefings members of Congress had been getting stated that the number was closer to 50% - and that may be lowballing it too.”

That means AMERICAN SOLDIERS would have 1:2 odds of being maimed or killed by their ‘Syrian allies’

11 posted on 09/05/2013 6:45:01 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever ( w)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ve noticed it. He’s had all kinds of work done.


12 posted on 09/05/2013 6:45:32 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: SeekAndFind

But luckily, Al Qaeda in Syria are the effective fighters and leaders.

See tagline.


13 posted on 09/05/2013 6:46:22 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Are Marines required to salute Al Qaeda yet?)
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To: proxy_user
The OLD LOOK JOHN KERRY


THE NEW LOOK JOHN KERRY

14 posted on 09/05/2013 6:46:51 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Its pretty clear that regime change is a prime goal of these “limited strikes”. It will get very messy and bloody. Regime change is the only effective way to dismantle the Iranian missile batteries positioned in forward Syrian locations that are pointed at Israel. Unless they are removed Israel cannot safely attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.


15 posted on 09/05/2013 6:47:48 AM PDT by allendale
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To: SeekAndFind

leave lurch alone. he’s working very hard. to get us into a war.


16 posted on 09/05/2013 6:48:29 AM PDT by sappy (criminaldems)
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To: SeekAndFind

Oh THAT’S comforting!

Less than a quarter!

So if I wanted to financially and materially support an organization that was ‘only’ 25% Aryan Brotherhood I’m sure the feds would be OK with that too.

Right?


17 posted on 09/05/2013 6:48:38 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: ConservativeMan55

“I’ve noticed it. He’s had all kinds of work done.”

Lifestyle Lift


18 posted on 09/05/2013 6:49:00 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever ( w)
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To: SeekAndFind

Why do people think plastic surgery is gonna make them look good? He looks ridiculous. His old horse face looked better. And is that a rug I detect?


19 posted on 09/05/2013 6:49:03 AM PDT by EnquiringMind
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To: SeekAndFind

This guy - kerry - he’s a real piece of work, ain’t he?


20 posted on 09/05/2013 6:49:53 AM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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