U.S. accidentally bombed “moderate” rebels in Syria because base was right next to Al Qaeda’s

Hotair ^ | 09/30/2014 | AllahPundit

[SeekAndFind]

Given that the “moderates” are our allies, you would think this problem could be avoided by coordinating with them on where to attack and where not to. But there’s a hitch: We … don’t trust them enough to rely on the intelligence they give us.

You’d trust a group that’s fighting so closely alongside Al Qaeda (a.k.a. the Nusra Front) that bombing the latter means collateral damage for the former, wouldn’t you?

Since U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in Syria began on Sept. 22, there has been no coordination between the U.S. military and its alleged partners on the ground, according to FSA leaders, civilian opposition leaders, and intelligence sources who have been briefed on the U.S. and allied military operation. It’s this lack of communication that led to an airstrike that hit only 200 meters from an FSA facility in the suburbs of Idlib. One source briefed on the incident said multiple FSA fighters were killed in the attack…

The coalition airstrike was targeting a base used by al Nusrah, the local al Qaeda affiliate. And the camp was, essentially, next door to the FSA facility. The al Qaeda fighters and the U.S-endorsed rebels were neighbors—and, at times, partners in battle against ISIS and the Bashar al-Assad regime…

Andrew Tabler, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, said the Obama administration is not coordinating with the FSA because it still doesn’t believe it can trust the FSA with sensitive information about ongoing military operations. But that also means the FSA can’t capitalize after the strikes by taking over the territory that has been cleared.

There are, supposedly, no U.S. boots on the ground inside Syria to gather targeting info on the ground

[grania]

If the US were serious about stopping ISIS, we'd be working with Assad to stop ISIS and the "moderate rebels" who will turn to a more radical agenda once they're armed, trained, and financed.

I do not understand why the US still wants to depose Assad. Syria's a corridor to the Med for ISIS and could lead to the annihilation of Lebanon.

[Delta Dawn]

So...the moderate rebels are those we haven’t bombed?

[SoFloFreeper]

We all know there are no moderate Islamic rebels in Syria.

Just like there are no moderate Democrats in America.

[colorado tanker]

The entire "Arab Spring" was a disaster. Extremists used us and the Europeans to overturn stable regimes and put them in power.

I agree. I don't see a way to fight ISIS and Assad at the same time. Is there even such a thing as "moderates" fighting Assad?

The Assad dynasty has been a colossal pain in the ass for us, but they are probably better than ISIS.

[livius]

This comes right after the Iraqi army “accidentally” dropped US weapons and supplies to ISIS outside of Baghdad.

[RedEyeJack]

This story doesn't pass the smell/giggle test. If the FSA are located in such close proximity to the Al Nusrah that we can't hit one without endangering the other then either they both are enemies and we should bomb both or, both are friends and we should not target either. Our friends aren't our friends if they are cozying up to our enemies.

[glorgau]

Easy solution, let God sort them out.

[gandalftb]

In nearly all of the strike cams, look at the structures moments before the strike.......

Do you see any vehicles parked around the buildings????

ISIL is all bugged out and set up in residential neighborhoods. How are going to dig them out of there?