US poised to vet possible arms for Syrian rebels

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As one diplomatic effort after another fails to end more than a year of brutal violence in Syria, the Obama administration is preparing a plan that would essentially give U.S. nods of approval to arms transfers from Arab nations to some Syrian opposition fighters.

The effort, U.S. officials told The Associated Press, would vet members of the Free Syrian Army and other groups to determine whether they are suitable recipients of munitions to fight the Assad government and to ensure that weapons don't wind up in the hands of al-Qaida-linked terrorists or other extremist groups such as Hezbollah that could target Israel.

The plan, which has not yet been finalized, reflects U.S. frustration that none of the previous efforts - including diplomatic rhetoric from the United Nations and the multinational Friends of Syria group, and special envoy Kofi Annan's plan for a cease-fire - has even begun to nudge President Bashar al-Assad from power. The vetting would be the first tiny step the U.S. has made toward ensuring that the Syrian opposition uses the weapons to fight Assad and not to turn it into a full sectarian conflict.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, stressed that the United States, which is already providing non-lethal aid to Syria's political opposition, is not supplying military assistance to Assad's foes.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-05-24-12-52-53

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Stupid, stupid, stupid. What are they thinking?

"Christians to Beirut, Alawaites to the tomb!" was a Sunni chant reported in the New York Review of Books this week. "Not to turn it into a sectarian conflict"--well, good luck with that.

[IamK]

2. ahhh... can we have that Nobel Peace Prize back....

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Oslo, October 9, 2009

[leveymg]

3. Rewarding terrorism. Terrorism works. More and bigger bombs to drive a minority ethnic regime

into a position where it finally concludes there is no alternative other than to use terrorism against us, because it has nothing left to loose. Then, the inferno.

More fuel before the match is struck.

[may3rd]

7. Russian arms shipment en route to Syria: Always ready to mak a ruble or two at the expense of other

Russian arms shipment en route to Syria:

.......
Russia, with the support of fellow veto power China, has prevented the council from imposing any U.N. sanctions on Syria and has refused to halt arms sales to Damascus.

"Al Arabiya have learned that a Russian cargo ship carrying a large amount of weapons plans to unload its cargo in the Syrian port of Tartus," the broadcaster said on its website on Thursday

......
One diplomat told Reuters that the vessel, which is called Professor Katsman, is owned by a Maltese firm, which is owned by a Cypriot company that is owned by Russian firm.

Diplomats said the Russian firm might have been acting on behalf of state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, though that was not clear. What is clear, they said, is that the weapons were intended to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a staunch ally whom Moscow continues to support.
.......

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/25/us-syria-arms-russia-idUSBRE84O12F20120525

The Russian military industrial complex has the best intere$t$ of A$$ad in mind

In the long run, it's all about Saudi oil $ vs Iranian oil $
Lucky the US gets ours from this side of the world

[David__77]

4. Fuel to the flames of violence in not just Syria, but in Lebanon and Turkey as well.

Syria certainly won't just idly sit by as the US - or anyone - decides to direct a war against the country.

[may3rd]

6. Turkey was in Chicago

for the NATO summit.
They can be considered "imperialists" from by gone years

[may3rd]

5. war powers act

NOT up for review again ?

Funding of private armies that are being trained in central africa by special forces troops is another "under the radar" story,
much like this one will be swept under.


why ?

[may3rd]

8. Exclusive: Obama authorizes secret U.S. support for Syrian rebels

President Barack Obama has signed a secret order ...

Precisely when Obama signed the secret intelligence authorization, an action not previously reported, could not be determined. The full extent of clandestine support that agencies like the CIA might be providing also is unclear. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor declined comment

....

U.S. and European officials say that, so far, intelligence agencies do not believe the militants' role in the anti-Assad opposition is dominant.

While U.S. and allied government experts believe that the Syrian rebels have been making some progress against Assad's forces lately, most believe the conflict is nowhere near resolution, and could go on for years


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014183135#post6


Lets see, the US vets AQ,
but AQ will step aside and allow american democracy to undermine their rightful gains in Syria ?
..k..


What could possibly go wrong now ?