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jakeXT

(10,575 posts)
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 03:50 AM Jan 2014

Congress secretly approves U.S. weapons flow to 'moderate' Syrian rebels

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Light arms supplied by the United States are flowing to "moderate" Syrian rebel factions in the south of the country and U.S. funding for months of further deliveries has been approved by Congress, according U.S. and European security officials.

The weapons, most of which are moving to non-Islamist Syrian rebels via Jordan, include a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets.

The deliveries do not include weapons such as shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, known as MANPADs, which could shoot down military or civilian aircraft, the officials said.

The weapons deliveries have been funded by the U.S. Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30, two officials said.

Read more: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBREA0Q1S320140127?irpc=932

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Congress secretly approves U.S. weapons flow to 'moderate' Syrian rebels (Original Post) jakeXT Jan 2014 OP
That is pure bs: not even a single bullet. Sand Wind Jan 2014 #1
terror sam80 Jan 2014 #2
"What could possibly go wrong?" unhappycamper Jan 2014 #3
From the article: pampango Jan 2014 #4
No money for American unemployment...nt Jesus Malverde Jan 2014 #5
McCain: Ariz. GOP Reprimand 'Fires Me Up' to Run Again jakeXT Jan 2014 #9
The stupid strikes again. BlueMTexpat Jan 2014 #6
This is anti-democratic AngryAmish Jan 2014 #7
It's good question that deserves a serious answer. The US Constitution, Article I, Section 5, 24601 Jan 2014 #15
their idea of gun control reddread Jan 2014 #8
Half-hearted assistance won't do anyone any good. WatermelonRat Jan 2014 #10
We don't really want them to win. Just pressuring/weakening Assad and TwilightGardener Jan 2014 #14
Well it's not much of a secret now is it? Cali_Democrat Jan 2014 #11
We are waging war on a sovereign state that did nothing to us (again). Comrade Grumpy Jan 2014 #12
you want we should invade Saudi Arabia? reddread Jan 2014 #13
Yeah, but these are *good* terrorists so the US has to help them kill the *bad* terrorists ... Nihil Jan 2014 #16
 

sam80

(5 posts)
2. terror
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 05:54 AM
Jan 2014

these moderate will come with hijacked planes to America , Definitely there will some consequences of this thing

pampango

(24,692 posts)
4. From the article:
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 07:02 AM
Jan 2014
Yet, officials who support providing U.S. arms to the rebels acknowledge that this has not greatly increased U.S. expectations of victory by anti-Assad forces, whether moderate or militant.

"The Syrian war is a stalemate. The rebels lack the organization and weapons to defeat Assad; the regime lacks the loyal manpower to suppress the rebellion. Both sides' external allies... are ready to supply enough money and arms to fuel the stalemate for the foreseeable future," said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and sometime foreign policy adviser to President Barack Obama.

Both U.S. and European officials said that "moderate" rebels had recently consolidated their positions in the Syrian south, where they are pushing out elements linked to al-Qaeda. More militant factions remain dominant in the north and east.

Another recent development favorable to more moderate factions is that Kurdish groups that had been providing weapons and other aid financed by donors in the Gulf state of Qatar indiscriminately to both moderate and religious extremist rebel factions had greatly reduced their involvement in the arms traffic, one of the officials said.

jakeXT

(10,575 posts)
9. McCain: Ariz. GOP Reprimand 'Fires Me Up' to Run Again
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 11:21 AM
Jan 2014

Sen. John McCain said "extremists" were behind his censure by the Arizona Republican Party but that it just fires him up to seek reelection.

Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/mccain-ariz-gop-reprimand/2014/01/28/id/549369

BlueMTexpat

(15,349 posts)
6. The stupid strikes again.
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 08:45 AM
Jan 2014

No money is provided for food stamps, unemployment compensation or veterans' benefits but plenty for arms manufacturers/dealers. We continue to create and arm new generations of terrorists, all the while increasing our own potential for political and economic instability.

We never - ever - learn.

24601

(3,940 posts)
15. It's good question that deserves a serious answer. The US Constitution, Article I, Section 5,
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 09:56 PM
Jan 2014

2nd clause which reads: "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings...."

So the direct answer is that the Constitution delegated Congress that power. It's the same power that lets Congress decide to hold open sessions as well.

Classified appropriations and authorizations aren't new. Every member of Congress has access if they choose to exercise it. Most do not (as it requires getting out of the office and going to a secure room in the Capitol) and instead rely on the committees assigned to oversee legislation relating to various departments & agencies.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)
14. We don't really want them to win. Just pressuring/weakening Assad and
Tue Jan 28, 2014, 09:29 PM
Jan 2014

forcing an agreement to end the war--either with or without him still in power. At least I assume that's what we're up to. Not that I necessarily agree with it.

 

Nihil

(13,508 posts)
16. Yeah, but these are *good* terrorists so the US has to help them kill the *bad* terrorists ...
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 09:27 AM
Jan 2014

... or some other equally fatuous "justification" ...

Nobel Peace Prizes all around!

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