Who is the Syrian "opposition" we are helping, and why? What are our "interests"?

[chimpymustgo]

WTF is going on here?

Who are we planning to bomb and why?

Is the "opposition" Al Quaeda fighters? Aren't they the "enemy"?

What are these "national interests" we keep hearing about?

What are the likely consequences here?

What is the goal?

Please, someone, explain this craziness to me.

[Avalux]

1. Our 'interests' are always about $$$.

So knowing that, this is about control of oil; namely a pipeline through Syria to the ocean. Lots of $$$ to be made, and our war profiteers don't want Russia to control it.

[polly7]

4. I'm also wondering how many of the PNAC warriors are hoping to draw Iran into this.

The pièce de résistance.

[Avalux]

6. They're chomping at the bit for that to happen.

An article by none other than John Yoo (!!!) on AEI's website lays out a case for going against the UN and wants Assad's regime removed from power; all under the guise of helping the Syrian people and restoring international law. Reading this gave me the willies, and a sense of de ja vu:

The Benefits Outweigh the Costs in Syria
International law permits using force to improve international peace and security
http://www.aei.org/article/foreign-and-defense-policy/regional/the-benefits-outweigh-the-costs-in-syria/

[polly7]

14. Thanks for the article.

They need to make up their minds, regime change supposedly was never a consideration. (John Woo the guy that said crushing the testicles of young boys in Iraq or Afghanistan, I can't remember which ... was A-OK?)

This has all got me sick to my stomach, I can't believe they're going to get away with it.

[Laurian]

2. All great questions. I'd like answers to them, as well.

Isn't it amazing that all we hear is the same old shit.

[kentuck]

3. Just guessing but I would say the Saudis are putting up the money ...

and our special forces are training some of the rebels, McCain's friends, in Damascus? This has probably been a secret operation going on for the last couple of years? But that would just be a guess.

[cali]

5. Kerry is being misleading. It's contemptible.

The opposition is composed of several different factions. Most experts seem to agree that the more radical Sunni fighters, whether they're affiliated with A-Q or not, are now the most effective and dominant fighting/governing forces at this time.

The Free Syrian Army is the most secular of the rebel groups. It was founded by defectors from Assad's forces.

Jabhat-al-Nusra is rooted in fundamentalism and is associated with A-Q.

[chimpymustgo]

7. Thank you, cali. The transparent lying, the moving goalposts - all nauseating.

We've seen this show before.

[KurtNYC]

8. This documentary shows some of the opposition (FSA) and what life has been like

in Syria for almost the last 2 years. It implies, perhaps without trying, that parts of the opposition are sectarian while Syria has been a pluralistic society and in that context shows why non-Sunnis in Syria have very deep reservations about some of the rebels and/or the potential fall of Assad.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/syria-behind-the-lines/

[chimpymustgo]

9. And what, again, are "our interests"?

[JaneyVee]

10. Our interests are humanitarianism from a compassionate President.

[chimpymustgo]

12. Now that's a laugher! Why not respond with humanitarian aid? Urge peace talks?

[City Lights]

11. "Our interests" center around enriching the MIC.

We just can't pass up an opportunity to transfer money from our pockets to those of the MIC. It's an insatiable beast.

[BelgianMadCow]

13. Sorry, classified. Excellent questions, all raised in the hearing.

Response: "we'll speak about that behind closed doors"...