Posted on 07/23/2017 10:07:09 AM PDT by Enlightened1
For nearly four years, Syrian rebels have clung to a programme of CIA assistance as a symbol of US support in their battle against Bashar al-Assads regime.
So reports that Donald Trumps administration will stop the limited scheme to arm and train Syrias opposition forces have sparked anger and confusion.
Rebels say they have not been informed of any changes to the policy introduced by Barack Obama as US president in 2013 as part of efforts to put pressure on Syrias president and bring about a political settlement. Mr Assads main backer, Russia, has long pushed for the US to end support.
If these reports are true, the administration is playing right into the hands of Vladimir Putin, John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Senate armed services committee, countered. Making any concession to Russia, absent a broader strategy for Syria, is irresponsible and short-sighted, he said.
Rebels contacted by the Financial Times say their CIA interlocutors had not confirmed any change, and political opposition figures who met US officials this week say they, too, were given no hint of any change. The White House has not confirmed that the programme has been cancelled.
Until now, nothing is confirmed. There have been no changes on the ground. When we spoke to the concerned parties [in the operations room] they were also surprised at the news, said Hassan Hamadeh, commander of Division 101, a rebel group. Co-ordination is ongoing, and everything has been happening normally.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
Looks like it is back to goat herding and smuggling....
One way the press is dishonest is by omission. It sure would be nice to know how much of the training and arms to “friendly rebels” in Syria ended up with ISIS. Besides which, the US is operating in a sovereign nation which never showed hostility to the US without the permission of Syria. Those details never make it into “news” stories.
Until the support is stopped ON THE GROUND; the support of the Syrian Islamists CONTINUES. Statements that support is ending are EMPTY WORDS; the Deep State continues to undermine the West.
“If these reports are true, the administration is playing right into the hands of Vladimir Putin, John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Senate armed services committee, countered. Making any concession to Russia, absent a broader strategy for Syria, is irresponsible and short-sighted, he said.
They always say it’s the FSA is Al Nusra.
Google Al Nusra and click on images. They have the same black flag of Al Qaeda and ISIS. It’s the same group. Just a different names to confuse the public.
You have to feel for the rebels. First they take a hit when their best wholesale arms customer, ISIS, starts running out out of money and now the U.S. stops giving them those arms for free.
If you’re a Syrian Rebel how are you supposed to make a living?
Syrian Rebels = Al Nusra = ISIS = Al Qaeda
It’s the same group, but just a different name to confuse the public.
You will notice, like a football team, they carry the same Black Flag of Al Qaeda.
There are no good rebels. They are all Jihadists.
The CIA should not be running foreign armys, especially Jihadi ones.
Syria is a damn mess.
Every Arab terrorist organization is involved.
Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar......all messing around in Syria.
There is one country in the region that doesn’t have bloody internal fighting.
Israel.
Let’s give Syria to Israel since the Arabs just want to kill each other.
Agree a 100 percent!
This is the equivalent of funding the Japanese or Germany during World War II.
All those involved should be arrested, imprisoned, interrogated and charge with high treason. After all they are funding the people that attacked us on September 11th, 2001.
Except maybe the Kurds.
It’s not that covert if we all know about it.
“Lets give Syria to Israel since the Arabs just want to kill each other.”
Yeah. No.
Still true today.
My understanding is that the Kurds are communist.
I’d rather have a commie than a jihadi.
Anyway, Kurds are an ethnicity, and not necessarily all, or even mostly, pro-commie.
Is this an old quote the author pulled out of a hat?
I thought the esteemed Senator would be too preoccupied with health care right now to give interviews.
If I were Assad, I would be diabolical and declare peace. I would deed the rebel controlled areas over to the Palestinians so they could have their own country. Let the rebels and all of their supporters have fun with that.
Happy Anniversary coming up.
President Trump in WV tomorrow, my son is at the Jamboree.
Trump addressing some 50,000 Scouts tomorrow.
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