Gen. Wesley Clark: Saudis, Qatar Created ISIS Threat.

[elleng]

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark says Saudi Arabia and Qatar should take responsibility for creating the threat that both they and the West now face from the Islamic State (ISIS).

"The Saudis have for years funded extremism. Their money's all over the region," Clark said Monday on CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper."

The Saudi monarchy has bought billions of dollars' worth of U.S. weapons over the years and funneled them to extremist groups, he said.

"It can't be exporting extremism and at the same time ask the United States to protect it," Clark said. "This ISIS threat is going eventually to be pointed like a dagger right at the heart of the Saudi regime." . . .


Clark disagreed with a tweet from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham that was critical of inaction against the Islamic State by President Barack Obama.

lindsay graham: The White House is trying to minimize the threat we face in order to justify not changing a failed strategy.

Clark said he respects Graham, "but in this case I think the White House is wisely marking time while it sorts out the situation on the ground. It wants to go in in an effective way — not simply stir the pot with a bunch of ineffective airstrikes somewhere."

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Wesley-Clark-Saudi-Qatar-ISIS/2014/08/25/id/590833/

[factsarenotfair]

1. Well......Qatar denies that, according to Al Jazeera.

Qatar denies backing Islamic State group

Foreign minister says Gulf state is repelled by armed group's views, their violent methods and their ambitions.

Qatar has rejected accusations of giving financial support to fighters of the Islamic State group who have seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, and condemned their "barbaric" murder of a US journalist.

Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah's comments on Saturday came a day after the German government apologised for remarks by a minister accusing Qatar of financing the self-declared jihadists.
...
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/qatar-denies-backing-islamic-state-group-201482323351451942.html

Does anyone know for certain?

[elleng]

2. About Qatar, General Clark said, according to the article:

'Saudi Arabia and Qatar both have given weapons to the Free Syrian Army, fighting the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, but some of those weapons may also have gone to the extremist jihadi group al-Nusra Front, and even to ISIS before it was known it was a threat, Clark said.'

[factsarenotfair]

4. Thank you for that info. :)

[elleng]

5. You're welcome, facts.

I didn't see the show, so have to rely on this report.

edit: Here's the show:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2014/08/25/lead-intv-clark-us-assad-syria-isis.cnn&video_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F

[KoKo]

13. Wasn't SOS John Kerry pushing for us to give more arms to al-Nusra Front

Last edited Tue Aug 26, 2014, 07:02 PM - Edit history (1)

in his bellicose speeches ....promoting al Nusra would then be able to remove Assad?

Good thing Obama pulled back on that one....thanks to Putin's help.

And Graham and McCain should admit that Obama did the correct thing in not getting dragged into Syria when there's enough terrible news out of Libya and Egypt that shows what a mistake it would have been to remove Assad...drag him through the streets letting him be public displayed in humility like Saddam or Gaddafi. That's what the Neocons and McCain/Graham wanted.

So now we have a difficult situation where they are blaming Obama for "ISIL" and ignoring that we need Assad now as a "Frenenemy." But, that's just for the moment and Assad knows that....and awaits the "turn."

[LiberalArkie]

11. The ruling family of Qatar owns Al Jazeera, never can tell about the truth on that point.

[PeteSelman]

3. Clark should be SoD.

The fact that he has had no role in this administration while they employ a bunch of shitheel Republicans is a travesty.

[femmocrat]

6. I hope Hillary will appoint him to her cabinet.

I would like to see him as Sec. of State.

[elleng]

8. Yes, SoS too,

and/or National Security Adviser.

[elleng]

7. I agree that he should be SoD, PeteSelman.

I have no problem with Chuck Hagel, but have thought General Clark should have been and should be a prominent member of this administration. (Thought he should have been President.)

[thelordofhell]

9. Clark should be Vice-President in 2016

If Hilary wins the primary..........and she will this time........she should have a guy with a big military background to be her VEEP to counter the gung-ho military jarheads who will look down on a woman in charge of the military..........sucks to have to think that way, but you know that's how it will go down

[Viva_Daddy]

10. Say, wasn't George W. Bush every close to the Saudis?

[Dems to Win]

12. Saudis created ISIS, Qatar created Al-Nusra

From The Atlantic :
" Qatar’s military and economic largesse has made its way to Jabhat al-Nusra, to the point that a senior Qatari official told me he can identify al-Nusra commanders by the blocks they control in various Syrian cities. But ISIS is another matter. As one senior Qatari official stated, “ISIS has been a Saudi project.”

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/06/isis-saudi-arabia-iraq-syria-bandar/373181/



Add my voice to those who would prefer to have Clark as DoD over a Republican.

[KoKo]

14. And..in fairness...SOS John Kerry wanted to give more Arms to al Nusra....

But ...in the end it would have ended up in the hands of ISIL...down the road.

What a Mess!