The shadowy flow of US weapons into Syria

Long War Journal ^ | April 27, 2014 | By Lisa Lundquist

[Brad from Tennessee]

For the past few years, and almost since the start of the civil war in Syria, the US has been quietly attempting to support the Syrian opposition by supplying aid to "vetted," supposedly moderate rebel groups. The operation, which is run by the CIA and relies on partnerships with US allies including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar, has been cloaked in secrecy and rarely surfaces in the news media.

As extremist groups such as the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), an al Qaeda offshoot, rose to dominance among the rebels over the past two years, other rebel groups also have emerged, most notably the Islamic Front, a large Islamist coalition that fights alongside Al Nusrah, and also the Syrian Revolutionaries' Front, a smaller, supposedly more moderate rebel group.

At the outset, some basic questions arise: Why is there such secrecy as to which groups are being supplied with Western aid, including weapons? If they are legitimate, shouldn't they be recognized as such? In Syria, a country roughly the size of Washington State, fighting has raged for over three years now; isn't it becoming impossible to find "moderate" rebel groups that have not reached an accommodation, if not outright collaboration, with the Islamist forces that are dominating the rebel ranks? And finally, if the groups consist of Islamist extremists who are linked with al Qaeda or fight alongside them, how can the provision of such weapons be justified, and what is the plan if the extremists prevail in Syria?

[Brad from Tennessee]

The Obama Administration is hesitant to name which Syrian groups it backs for fear that these "moderates" could be linked to anti-Western terrorism.

[TexasCajun]

And remember, Obama & Hillary would not station armed Marines at any Lybia embassy or annex, hired a contractor that would agree to no bullets in guns.

[Diogenesis]

Everyone on the planet KNOWS that America
is arming al Qaeda/Moslem Brotherhood worldwide
with MANPADS, sarin, SAMs and more.

Is there a single member of the hated, EXEMPT Congress
who will FINALLY stand up for America?

Apparently not?

[SpinnerWebb]

And that's always worked out SO well for us... see Operation Cyclone

[Starboard]

Is there a single member of the hated, EXEMPT Congress who will FINALLY stand up for America?

***************

You’re asking them to have convictions, principles and courage. A tall order for this feckless bunch of weasels. A bridge way too far for them. They only act in their own self interest.

[Candor7]

The nomenclature is simple. Obama is supporting the Sunni’s, doing the step and fetch for the King of Saud whose ring Obama kissed,, while Russia is supporting the Shi-ites.

Putin and the Shi-ites are winning, meanwhile US tax dollars are fighting a proxy Sunni war, and we do not even get a break on oil prices from OPEC.

And here we are not even a Muslim country, nor are we supposed to be involved in religious wars. When the Shiites take Mecca, maybe we can relax.

[sockmonkey]

At the outset, some basic questions arise: Why is there such secrecy as to which groups are being supplied with Western aid, including weapons? If they are legitimate, shouldn't they be recognized as such? In Syria, a country roughly the size of Washington State, fighting has raged for over three years now; isn't it becoming impossible to find "moderate" rebel groups that have not reached an accommodation, if not outright collaboration, with the Islamist forces that are dominating the rebel ranks?

And did the CIA or our Jihadist friends in Syria take out Austin Tice? Was the former Marine whose specialty had been logistics, and troop movements really just a freelance reporter for McClatchy or was he fronting as such, and helping with arming the Jihadis?

[drypowder]

this is analogous to a tree falling in the forest when no one hears it; if no one in DC mentions the word TREASON, is it still TREASON??

[stevie_d_64]

Is there ‘really” a way to put a prosecutorial finger on who stands to benefit from these weapons transfers monetarily...

I mean Harry Reid got into bed with the ChiComs for the Nevada land squeeze encounter...That’s still in work...Texas seems to be in the crosshairs now, but a little more subtle approaches...

Follow the money???

I cannot see this being something that is directly, or indirectly tied to the Obama’s if that is who made the decision to work this deal...

I’m not excusing it, but since we have never been able to nail ANYONE of ANY high crimes and misdemeanors, and most liberal/elitist republicans are almost untouchable...

The only option we have is memory, and taking ALL this in total to the polls EVRY SINGLE TIME THEY OPEN!!!

Why cannot ANYONE in the voting public remember any of these things (in numbers to really make an impact??? And toss as many out on the street as possible???

[bayouranger]

Of course not.