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In reply to the discussion: Mitt Romney: 'I would arm the Syrian rebels' [View all]leveymg
(36,418 posts)Last edited Mon Oct 8, 2012, 05:14 PM - Edit history (3)
and that many of these missiles would be going to Syria. I'm not saying we did regime change in Libya to send Gaddafi's SA-7 and SA-16 missiles and Benghazi Jihadis to Syria, just that we did it knowing that proliferation of both was a likely outcome, with a strong inkling of where many of them would end up.
Different intent, even if the same outcome.
There are several types of shoulder-operated MANPADs that were looted from Libyan arsenals. The photo below shows the SA-7 (left) and what appears to be an improved type 7 or the more capable SA-16 (right). In addition, there is an unknown number of SA-24, that are Stinger-equivalents, (as shown in the large photo below about to be hauled off in the cargo bed of Libyan rebel pickup truck). The threat posed by loose MANPADs was well understood by US officials (see, http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/asmp/MANPADS.html; http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/07/28/The_Taliban_Doesn%E2%80%99t_Have_Stingers), but these concerns were set aside in the rush to regime change in Tripoli that involved the US Ambassador after his arrival in Bengahzi during April last year directing Libyan rebel groups.
As for whether we should have done it, regardless, I have to ask you: was liberating Afghanistan and Kosovo from the Soviets "worth" the price of blowback we paid on 9/11? If you answer yes, I suggest you ask that question of the families of the victims and check yourself in for observation.
BTW: a major reason why we seem to have called a halt to escalating regime change in Syria (unless it's just a pause for the re-election) is that some people in Washington seem to have finally recognized the escalating dangers of blowback there, including the looting of Syria arsenals by our friends, the Salafists. Better late than never.