Top US officials claim the Obama administration is still wary of formally recognizing the Syrian opposition and of directly sending them arms, after about a year of limited meddling has contributed in an apparent stalemate in Syria’s bloody civil war.
Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Syria who left Damascus in February, said “the president has never taken the provision of arms off the table” but that “arms are a tactic, not a strategy.”
“We think that a military solution is not the best way for Syria,” Ford continued. “Efforts to win this by conquering one side or another will simply prolong the violence and aggravate an already terrible humanitarian situation.”
The US admits it has been aiding the Syrian rebels with non-lethal assistance, and reports have found the CIA to be set on the Turkish-Syrian border funneling weapons from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others to Syrian rebel groups.
But the Syrian opposition is increasingly made up of extremist jihadis, many of whom have committed war crimes and many of whom are fighting under the banner of al-Qaeda. Still, the US has tried to bolster certain other elements of the opposition to clear the way for direct US support.
“It appears as though the opposition is now capable of holding ground and that they are better equipped and more able to bring the fight to the government forces,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a conference on Thursday. “I don’t know if you can say that the entire country is at a tipping point, but it certainly seems that the regime will be harder pressed in the coming months.”
“Clinton denied a report Thursday by the Associated Press which stated that the administration is already planning to recognize the new Syrian opposition council that Clinton and her State Department were instrumental in helping establish, reports Josh Rogin at Foreign Policy. “She also declined to confirm a New York Times report Thursday that the administration is considering providing direct arms to some members of the Syrian opposition.”
Billions have been diverted from Latin America to pay for this mischief making. Thanks for nothing, Hillary.
If the Obama Administration doesn't 'plan' on "recognizing" the 'new' sham Syrian "government" in exile the Obama Administration created, I guess it begs the question: why was it created in the first place?
Also, why is the US created 'new' sham Syrian "government" in exile currently 'officially' "recognized" by: France, the UK, Spain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman as "The sole legitimate representative of Syria/'the Syrian People'"? The sham exile "government" has even named and 'appointed' a UK "ambassador". Are 'we' to believe all of this was done against the will/wishes of US 'Policy'?
yeh, we're more than happy to provide them the arms, funding and training covertly. give me a F in break.
The top officials can claim what they want.., the reality on the ground is that US already supporting and supplying these imbeciles whom are the servant of Saudis and other tyrant regimes being paid by them. This man, Obama, is playing with everyone, he is a manipulator of the time, one day his mimicking Dr. Lither King the other day kissing the hands of Saudis, third day he is telling the world that he would have "more Flexibility after election", and the other day in word wants to have peace and even says that his administration is working for peace, yet the very same man orders his UN staff vote against Palestinians.., so this is it is after election and time for new directive manipulating ideas both at home and where US has an economic interests. But wait, you haven't seen nothing yet.., within few months, you will see a bigger and bolder agendas when he will tell you that he is going to war with Iran. But for now he is looking for a buyer of his ideas at UN.