Obama Wants $500 Million to Train Syrian Rebels. Now What? By Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Washington Post
The Obama administration asked Congress on Thursday to authorize $500 million to provide U.S. military training and equipment to “moderate” Syrian rebels, a move that will undoubtedly edge the U.S. closer to direct involvement in the Syrian civil war.
Up until now, the CIA has clandestinely trained moderate rebels in Jordan and armed them with small arms. The U.S. has also allowed other countries to provide the rebels with anti-tank missiles.
A spokeswoman for the National Security Council said the new funds, if approved by Congress, would “help defend the Syrian people, stabilize areas under opposition control, facilitate the provision of essential services, counter terrorist threats, and promote conditions for a negotiated settlement.” But in a three-year-old conflict, with more than a hundred thousand estimated dead and now more rebel groups than some can count, what does $500 million buy you? …
(Dave Maxwell quoted)
Comments
At this point, I don't think America's unconventional warfare campaign in Syria is going to do much more than prolong the conflict, and likely continue to assist further ISIS expansion as they secure more US-provided weapons and non-lethal aid. If we are serious about deposing Assad - though I don't think that would be wise - then the only way to get rid of him is to give the FSA a heavy dose of western airpower ala Odyssey Dawn.