In Syria’s Rebels, US Doesn’t Know Whom It’s Aiding

The CIA's supposed 'vetting process' has failed to reveal whom Washington is sending weapons to

Despite the Obama administration’s claims, the US has very poor intelligence on exactly who it is supporting within the rebel militias in Syria, according to anonymous US officials.

The Obama administration has been sending lethal and non-lethal aid to the Syrian opposition in an attempt to initiate regime change by proxy war. Specifically, the CIA is reported to be facilitating the delivery of aid through neighboring Turkey and going through some “vetting process” in order to ensure that the weapons and other materials get to rebel militias, just not the ones allied with al-Qaeda fighters.

But a US official told the Washington Post that the CIA knows very little about who is receiving US support, nor can they control exactly where it ends up. “The agency and others are trying to learn more about them,” the official said. “It’s still the case that without actual access to Syria, it’s hard to know exactly who they are.”

The New York Times has reported that the Obama administration has officially “abandoned efforts for a diplomatic settlement” in favor of “increasing aid to the rebels and redoubling efforts” at regime change.

“But we’ve got to figure out who is over there first, and we don’t really know that,” the US official added. Yet, rebels continue to receive this support from the US and its allies. In the past, such ventures have had deadly consequences for America and for many innocent civilians throughout the Middle East region.

Author: John Glaser

John Glaser writes for Antiwar.com.