30-year-old Eric Harroun, a US Army veteran, has been charged with “conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction” by Federal authorities for his role in Syria’s Civil War.
Harroun reportedly went to Turkey in November to join the Free Syrian Army (FSA), one of the rebel factions backed by the US in the ongoing war. During a join FSA operation with Jabhat al-Nusra, he ended up withdrawing in a Nusra vehicle and, discovering he was an American they originally took him prisoner.
Instead of turning into a hostage situation, Harroun claimed to have won over the group, designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by US officials, and ended up joining them instead, participating in several attacks.
The “weapons of mass destruction” charge stems directly from Harroun’s own Facebook posts, where he bragged about fighting with al-Nusra and even using a rocket launcher to shoot down a Syrian military helicopter. The rocket launcher is the WMD in question.
The charge is virtually obligatory since Harroun publicized so much about his activities and engaged in multiple press interviews while fighting for the Jabhat al-Nusra. It underscores the problematic US policy in Syria, however, that someone could be charged by the administration with fighting for regime change, the Obama Administration’s own stated policy goal, using weapons that the CIA likely smuggled into Syria in the first place.
Harroun served in the Army from 2000 to 2003, when he was discharged for medical injuries suffered in a car crash. He was arrested at an airport on Wednesday, when he returned to the US. The charge could potentially carry a life sentence.
Jason.., this is not a civil war.., is a orchestrated war organized by USA and EU with mercenaries as this man.., these people are not Syrians.., they are sent from Sweden to France, England and etc. which proves that Syrian war is not a civil war.., is a proxy war, religious war, imperialism war but is not a civil war, the majority of the Syrians (civilians) not supporting these bandits or foot solders from USA or Europe paid by Saudis.., which is another reason for this war not being a civil war…, but it seams that you personally have something against Syrian people wanting for this war to be a civil war.., then being a partial.., or an anti war personality..
So…Ditz's 'story' now is that: this US citizen "innocently" entered Syria to join ranks with the benevolent 'freedom fighting' so-called "Free Syrian Army" (FSA), which is "officially" endorsed by the US federal government…and somehow, by some convoluted 'story', ended up joining ranks with the so-called "Jabhat al-Nusra"–which is 'officially' identified as a "terrorist organization" by the US State Department as of December of 2012–"officially" listed only more than a mere year-and-a-half, or so, into the Syrian 'conflict'…and only 11 months, or so, after the so-called "Jabhat al-Nusra" 'officially' took credit for the infamous suicide (multiple) car-bombing of the Civil Service building in Damascus, Syria in early January 2012… Listed December 2012 which, coincidentally, was only days before the 1st 'imminent chemical weapons use' "scare" Hillary Clinton went crazy about???
Well…this is interesting indeed. I'm at least glad the US federal government recognizes the "American People" don't want 'terrorists' to enter into our civil society; however, this guy–based on the information available–is a complete idiot…possibly mildly retarded–as he posted videos of himself with terrorists on YouTube and Skyped and IMed with the lame-stream and the FBI before returning the US…
All this makes me wonder: how many terrorists–who are possibly even US citizens–is this 'war' in Syria creating who aren't as dumb as this guy? Will they 'fly under the radar' when they return??? I've been 'concerned' about this for quite a while….
Perhaps Mr. Obama should have listened to his "spiritual adviser" Jeremiah Write before getting involved in this little 'project'…
http://youtu.be/208t80uceSg
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt….right???
i agree with the previous two commentators re this man involving himself in the overthrow of the syrian government- the sovereign govt of another country which has been targeted so that the country can be broken up[ is my feeling]. the warts the assad government has warts- but it is an issue for the syrian people to sort out without self serving outside intervention by others with an agenda which does not include what is good for syria and syrians…nor good for the other people of the region who are currently in the cross-hairs of the local and super hegemonic powers of israel, the Us and increasingly the EU.
This guys crime was probably that he was indiscreet- he felt so comfortable that he bragged about it and such bragging at this time was embarrassing. so he had to be seen to be made accountable. not for committing any crimes but for drawing attention to his role… so he will be made an example of [ at least for a while]…then quietly let go may be?. if he is really sent down, then this just demonstrates a further layer of hypocrisy to the Us's behaviour in the region- the guy was just carrying out their destructive policies in the region
Since when is an RPG anything remotely resembling a 'weapon of mass destruction'?
Just another gratuitous charge to make this kid an example. But an example of what? A US citizen who sided with the forces the US is supporting in order to achieve our geopolitical objectives in Syria? So the US has designated al-Nusra as a 'terrorist group'- fair enough. But if they are terrorists, why aren't we launching drones and air strikes at them 24/7 since we know where they are? Typical US hypocrisy.