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U.S. to Use Air Power to Defend Syria Force
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Aug. 2, 2015 | ADAM ENTOUS

Posted on 08/02/2015 3:17:31 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

President Barack Obama has authorized the use of air power to defend a new U.S.-backed fighting force in Syria should it come under attack from Syrian government forces or other groups, officials said, in a move that could increase the risk of the U.S. coming into direct conflict with the Assad regime.

The decision ends a months’ long debate over the role the U.S. military should play in supporting its few allies on the battlefield and comes as the U.S. and Turkey discussed joint operations to clear a zone along the Turkish-Syrian border of Islamic State militants. Turkish officials wanted assurances from the U.S. that it would be serious about defending allied ground forces there.

Even though the new rules allow Pentagon strikes to defend the new force against the Assad regime, U.S. military officials played down the chances of a direct conflict between the governments, at least in the near term, since the newly-trained force has committed to fighting Islamic State, not the regime, and won’t be fielded in areas the regime controls.

The Pentagon has struggled to recruit and vet rebels for the new train-and-equip program, which it launched last year, in part because the U.S. is asking them to fight Islamic State instead of the Assad regime. Most rebels see the regime as their main enemy. Fewer than 60 rebels have completed the Pentagon training program and re-entered the fight so far, casting doubt on the effort.

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


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Syria
KEYWORDS: airstrikes; alqaeda; assad; caliphate; iran; isis; isisaf; mccain; obama; obamasyriawar; rebels; syria; syriawar; valeriejarrett
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1 posted on 08/02/2015 3:17:31 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Hussein always is on the wrong side in the ME.


2 posted on 08/02/2015 3:19:01 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: MinorityRepublican
President Barack Obama has authorized the use of air power to defend a new U.S.-backed fighting force in Syria should it come under attack from Syrian government forces or other groups...

... Translation: Charlie Foxtrot or Congratulations, ISIS. You now have an air force.

3 posted on 08/02/2015 3:20:18 PM PDT by jimjohn (You don't get the kind of government you want, or the kind you need. You get the kind you deserve.)
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To: Paladin2
Hussein always is on the wrong side in the ME.

Indeed he is. Thing is, there's no discernible, reliable right side.

4 posted on 08/02/2015 3:23:00 PM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
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To: jimjohn

Exactly. The ISIS air force planes are on the way.


5 posted on 08/02/2015 3:23:43 PM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
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To: MinorityRepublican

New Force? New Way. One Way. Rebels. Muslim Rebels


6 posted on 08/02/2015 3:23:50 PM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Paladin2

Obama! You incompetent boob!


7 posted on 08/02/2015 3:24:00 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: Paladin2

whom do we support again?


8 posted on 08/02/2015 3:26:04 PM PDT by larryjohnson (USAF(Ret))
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To: Veto!

Giving cash or eqivalents to any muzzie is counter indicated.


9 posted on 08/02/2015 3:26:15 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
"Obama! You incompetent boob!"

It's more than incompetency. Obama is as blackly evil as anything from the pit of Hell.

10 posted on 08/02/2015 3:28:03 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon (("This is a Laztatorship. You don't like it, get a day's rations and get out of this office."))
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To: MinorityRepublican

Yet more brilliant foreign policy from Clown Prince nobama and his team of plugs biden and traitor kerry. Sheesh! These degenerates are complete fools.


11 posted on 08/02/2015 3:28:20 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

And where are the anti-war protests on this crap?


12 posted on 08/02/2015 3:33:37 PM PDT by nomad
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To: MinorityRepublican

So, when will we see the headline “US to use air power to defend Iran from Israeli attack”? I mean we’ve already given up the store.


13 posted on 08/02/2015 3:40:32 PM PDT by rktman (Served in the Navy to protect the rights of those that want to take some of mine away. Odd, eh?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Are we going to bomb the Kurds in the process of helping the Turks? A ruse?


14 posted on 08/02/2015 3:52:38 PM PDT by pleasenotcalifornia
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To: MinorityRepublican

Our Air Force is going to protect a current or future ISIS splinter group from Assad?

I mean, the group obama backed in Libya against Qadaffi showed how good we are at picking pro democracy winners

ISIS got air cover!


15 posted on 08/02/2015 3:55:46 PM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Thius is the ISIS branch we are now committed to defend?


16 posted on 08/02/2015 3:55:56 PM PDT by arthurus (it's true!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Just brought the USA into the final war of human civilizations the Plains of Megiddo (Armaggeddon) are not far off, the Army from the East - Afghanistan will be given free reign as it joins with ISIS. Iran will have nuclear warheads by 2016. The elections for 2016 will be cancelled - All the Plans of the One World Government will ensue prior to the end of 2016 - Christians prepare to kiss your butt good bye.


17 posted on 08/02/2015 3:59:20 PM PDT by hondact200
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To: MinorityRepublican
And not a PEEP from Congress?

Committing forces to a foreign conflict, absent existential emergency, is certainly against current law and the Constitution.

18 posted on 08/02/2015 4:02:15 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Fewer than 60 rebels have completed the Pentagon training program and re-entered the fight so far, casting doubt on the effort.

A 60-man army, eh?

19 posted on 08/02/2015 4:07:29 PM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: MinorityRepublican

This action is a day late and a dollar short. The force we are going to protect was wiped out by the Al Nusrah Front (Al Qaeda) last week.


20 posted on 08/02/2015 4:08:55 PM PDT by gusty
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