West Still Split on US Scheme to Arm Syria’s Rebels

Most US Aid Has Never Been Delivered Anyhow

Though the Obama Administration has already announced its intentions to start arming Syria’s rebellion, Western nations are extremely split on the issue, with Germany leading a group of nations who fear that arming the Islamist rebels is going to have long-term negative impacts on security across the region.

The US has tried to spin the arms as aimed at breaking a stalemated civil war, but experts warn it could have the opposite effect and instead prevent peace talks and prolong the conflict.

Of course, whether the US actually delivers the pledged aid is another matter entirely, as the vast majority of the cash aid pledged to the rebels has never been delivered in the first place.

Those delays are because of the divided nature of the rebellion, with the State Department often withholding promised funds in an effort to get groups to unite. With the vetting process further complicating the question of weapons, it could be quite some time before US arms are having a real impact on the ongoing war.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.