Posted on 03/28/2014 2:29:01 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
President Barack Obama is considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to the Syrian opposition, a U.S. official said Friday, as Obama sought to reassure Saudi Arabia's king that the U.S. is not taking too soft a stance in Syria and other Mideast conflicts.
A key U.S. ally, Saudi Arabia would be likely to cheer a decision by Obama to allow the portable missile launchers into Syria. Saudi officials were dismayed when Obama scrapped plans last year to launch a strike against Syrian President Bashar Assad, and they have been pressing the White House on the issue. The Saudis could play a direct role in sending the systems, known as "manpads," to the rebels fighting Assad's forces.
Manpads are compact missile launchers with the range and explosive power to attack low-flying planes and helicopters. U.S. officials have estimated the Syrian government has thousands.
Word of Obama's potential shift came as Obama was paying a visit to Saudi King Abdullah's desert oasis at the conclusion of a weeklong, four-country trip. The aging monarch has been nervously watching Washington's negotiations with Iran and other U.S. policy developments in the Middle East.
Obama's Marine One helicopter kicked up clouds of sand in his arrival at the king's desert camp outside the capital of Riyadh for a meeting with Abdullah. The president walked through a row of military guards to an ornate room featuring a massive crystal chandelier and took a seat next to the 89-year-old king, who was breathing with the help of an oxygen tank.
Secretary of State John Kerry sat at [the master's feet, er] the president's side for the visit..
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
[Zero] is considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to the Syrian opposition... The Saudis could play a direct role in sending the systems, known as "manpads," to the rebels... Manpads are compact missile launchers with the range and explosive power to attack low-flying planes and helicopters. U.S. officials have estimated the Syrian government has thousands.But why? Everyone *knows* that TWENTY THOUSAND MANPADS were smuggled by the Libyan rebels directly to the Syrian rebels. /sarc
It’s the Obama squishes in his pants tour.
Saudi King Dissses Obama, Sends Him Home Without Any Dinner
Now that millions of innocent Syrians have been killed or displaced, and after Obama has spent years listening to pleas to aid the Syrian rebels from two of his most loyal supporters — King Abdullah and John McCain — he’s finally decided to act.
This should give great encouragement to the Ukrainians. Help is on the way from Barack Obama, if you can hold out against the Russians for three years.
Saudi King summons Obama 2,000 miles to tell him what to do what a Leader we have to represent the US.
“Did he bow to him again and maybe kiss his feet this time?”
more likely bend over and dropped his pants. what a bastard.
There’s already a quote from Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QvAqP6mxg8
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.