Disagreements Among Syrian Rebels Over Foreign Arms Shipments

New York Times ^ | March 30, 2012 | Anne Barnard

[SunkenCiv]

Those who favor international weapons shipments have been scrambling in recent days to convince the United States and other countries that the rebels can address their main concerns: keeping weapons from falling into the hands of Islamic extremists and from fueling sectarian violence.

Saudi Arabia, which will have representatives at the Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul, has been a proponent of arming the rebels, and on Friday The Wall Street Journal reported that the kingdom was pressing Jordan, and offering it aid, to open its borders to allow rebel-bound weapons deliveries.

Jordan has denied the report, but it has added to the anxiety over the issue ahead of the gathering of Western and Arab countries in Istanbul on Sunday. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on her way to the meeting, discussed Syria with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in Riyadh on Friday.

Any shipments, especially from Saudi Arabia, would raise regional tensions and risk spreading the conflict, since Syria's main backer is Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional rival. Such as move would also play into the Syrian government's argument that the uprising is fueled by foreign powers.

Opponents and proponents of foreign arms shipments to the rebels agree on the same set of intractable problems, mainly that the armed opposition is decentralized, with groups of army defectors and volunteers largely fending for themselves to obtain weapons.

But backers say that despite such issues, there is an urgent need to establish a centralized supply line to the rebels because Islamist groups like the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood are already arming some factions, and are gaining disproportionate influence.

[trebb]

Those who favor international weapons shipments have been scrambling in recent days to convince the United States and other countries that the rebels can address their main concerns: keeping weapons from falling into the hands of Islamic extremists and from fueling sectarian violence.

I thought the Obama policy was to PROVIDE weapons to islamic extremists and fueling sectarian (or racial) violence....

[FreedomPoster]

The rebels represent just a different brand of thugs. Perhaps even less desirable, just based on what we are seeing in Libya and Egypt.

[SunkenCiv]

Ah, here it is:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2824460/posts

[SunkenCiv]

The Russians will provide a place of exile, if Assad manages to escape, which he won’t. And he’d probably prefer Iran if he were to.

[U-238]

Hezbollah is an extension or “proxy” of Syria and Iran.

[U-238]

Hezbollah is an extension or “proxy” of Syria and Iran.

[U-238]

Do not underestimate Assad. There is probably a plane ready and fueled.

[U-238]

I would have a plane ready for an escape. I am sure he took some lessons from Mubarak and Gaddafi on making a quick getaway.