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Syrian Rebels Alarmed By Reports Covert CIA Aid Will End
The Financial Times ^ | 07/20/17 | Erika Solomon

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-Assad’s regime.

So reports that Donald Trump’s administration will stop the limited scheme to arm and train Syria’s 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 Syria’s president and bring about a political settlement. Mr Assad’s 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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Syria; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aid; cia; end; pompeo; rebels; syria; trump45; trumpcia
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1 posted on 07/23/2017 10:07:09 AM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1

Looks like it is back to goat herding and smuggling....


2 posted on 07/23/2017 10:10:03 AM PDT by ptsal ( Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - M. Twain)
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To: Enlightened1

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.


3 posted on 07/23/2017 10:11:35 AM PDT by grania (Deplorable and Proud of It!)
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To: Enlightened1

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.


4 posted on 07/23/2017 10:13:25 AM PDT by House Atreides (Send BOTH Hillary & Bill to prison.)
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To: Enlightened1

“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.


Hey Juan, isn’t it about time for your long-delayed meeting with Beelzebub?


5 posted on 07/23/2017 10:16:27 AM PDT by samtheman (As an oil exporter, why would the Russians prefer Trump to Hillary? (Get it or be stupid.))
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To: grania

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.


6 posted on 07/23/2017 10:18:12 AM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1

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?


7 posted on 07/23/2017 10:21:15 AM PDT by InterceptPoint (Ted, you finally endorsed. About time.)
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To: InterceptPoint

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.


8 posted on 07/23/2017 10:24:02 AM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1

The CIA should not be running foreign armys, especially Jihadi ones.


9 posted on 07/23/2017 10:24:08 AM PDT by Paladin2 (No spelchk nor wrong word auto substition on mobile dev. Please be intelligent and deal with it....)
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To: Enlightened1

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.


10 posted on 07/23/2017 10:24:39 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Paladin2

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.


11 posted on 07/23/2017 10:26:50 AM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1
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.

Except maybe the Kurds.

12 posted on 07/23/2017 10:37:44 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big government is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
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To: Enlightened1

It’s not that covert if we all know about it.


13 posted on 07/23/2017 10:38:04 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (A year in Arizona... and I haven't burst into flames yet.)
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To: blueunicorn6

“Let’s give Syria to Israel since the Arabs just want to kill each other.”

Yeah. No.


14 posted on 07/23/2017 10:53:07 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Why defend the EU?)
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To: Enlightened1

Still true today.

15 posted on 07/23/2017 10:56:58 AM PDT by McGruff (MAGA)
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To: PapaBear3625

My understanding is that the Kurds are communist.


16 posted on 07/23/2017 10:57:35 AM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1

I’d rather have a commie than a jihadi.

Anyway, Kurds are an ethnicity, and not necessarily all, or even mostly, pro-commie.


17 posted on 07/23/2017 11:02:51 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big government is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
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To: samtheman

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.


18 posted on 07/23/2017 12:09:06 PM PDT by armourenthusiast (Trumperific)
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To: Enlightened1

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.


19 posted on 07/23/2017 3:55:24 PM PDT by FreeInWV
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To: FreeInWV

Happy Anniversary coming up.

President Trump in WV tomorrow, my son is at the Jamboree.

Trump addressing some 50,000 Scouts tomorrow.


20 posted on 07/23/2017 4:02:40 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES)
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