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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKerry Statements About 'Moderate' Syrian Rebels More Optimistic Than Intelligence Reports
HuffPost Politics ?@HuffPostPol 19mJohn Kerry's Syria assertions remain at odds with intelligence reports http://huff.to/1dJuYVp (Reuters)
WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Secretary of State John Kerry's public assertions that moderate Syrian opposition groups are growing in influence appear to be at odds with estimates by U.S. and European intelligence sources and nongovernmental experts, who say Islamic extremists remain by far the fiercest and best-organized rebel elements.
At congressional hearings this week, while making the case for President Barack Obama's plan for limited military action in Syria, Kerry asserted that the armed opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "has increasingly become more defined by its moderation, more defined by the breadth of its membership, and more defined by its adherence to some, you know, democratic process and to an all-inclusive, minority-protecting constitution.
"And the opposition is getting stronger by the day," Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.
U.S. and allied intelligence sources and private experts on the Syrian conflict suggest that assessment is optimistic.
While the radical Islamists among the rebels may not be numerically superior to more moderate fighters, they say, Islamist groups like the al Qaeda-aligned Nusra Front are better organized, armed and trained.
read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/john-kerry-syrian-rebels_n_3870782.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
leveymg
(36,418 posts)and the CIA's giving Mullah "the Blind Sheikh" Omar a special visa to organize Islamic fighters who went on to blow up the WTC garage in 1993 and then there was our special relationship with Saudi Intelligence that led to CIA visas being given to the 9/11 hijackers even though they were known terrorists, and then there's the Tsarnaevs and their CIA handlers - when will they ever learn?
David Krout
(423 posts)Like when he said the Egyptian coup "restored Democracy" lol.
Junkdrawer
(27,993 posts)Assad was winning, yet they want us to believe he was desperate enough to launch chemical weapons the DAY the UN CW inspectors arrived.
Of course they HAVE to change the narrative to "Assad was backed into a corner and used his last chance option." Facts be damned.
blm
(113,157 posts)in this country.
blm
(113,157 posts)it stands to reason that would shift the balance of power to the moderate camp being armed.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)SEC. KERRY: No, that is -- no, that is actually basically not true. It's basically incorrect. The opposition has increasingly become more defined by its moderation, more defined by the breadth of its membership and more defined by its adherence to some, you know, democratic process and to an all-inclusive, minority-protecting constitution, which will be broad-based and secular with respect to the future of Syria. And that's very critical.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/running-transcript-senate-foreign-services-committee-hearing-on-syria/2013/09/03/35ae1048-14ca-11e3-b182-1b3bb2eb474c_story_4.html
I note the function of the word "basically" in Kerry's answer. It puts the truth at somewhere between 99% and 51% but I don't know what to make of his use of "secular."
Al Nursa is estimated at 7,000 troops in Syria. Sunni Jihadists who advocate sharia law and a pan Islamic state.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Nusra_Front
ISIL (or Islamic State of Iraq and Levant) -- also Sunni Jihadists and Al Qaeda. Obviously NOT secular Mr. Kerry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Left unchecked, I'm very concerned that the most radical elements will take over larger segments" of the opposition groups, Shedd said. He added that the conflict could drag on anywhere "from many, many months to multiple years" and that a prolonged stalemate could leave open parts of Syria to potential control by radical fighters.
Still, this assessment doesn't counter what Kerry stated, which was that up to 25 percent of the opposition are "bad guys," including some that are al Qaeda.
"There is a real moderate opposition that exists. General Idriss is running the military arm of that," Kerry continued, referring to General Salim Idriss, head of the rebel Free Syrian Army. Increasingly, he said, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are funneling assistance through Idriss.
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)Is a great media institution...
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)...of foreign jihadists pouring over the borders to join jihadist rebel groups, and of FSA leadership beginning to fracture. Not to mention, a number of jihadists within the supposedly secular FSA.
I do not see any good coming from US military involvement. I think a better solution is to engage in talks with Russia (if Obama hasn't already blown the opportunity) and seek a solution that addresses the concerns both countries have in common. Neither US nor Russian national security is served by handing Syria over to Al Qaeda.
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