Obama announces additional $155 million in aid to Syria

[bemildred]

Source: USA Today

President Obama announced on Tuesday that he has approved an additional $155 million in humanitarian aid to the Syrian people.

With the new infusion of aid, the Obama administration has now committed $365 million in humanitarian assistance since the unrest against the Bashar Assad's regime began nearly two years ago.

"We're under no illusions," Obama said in a video statement announcing the new aid. "The days ahead will continue to be very difficult. But what's clear is that the regime continues to weaken and lose control of territory. The opposition continues to grow stronger. More Syrians are standing up for their dignity."

The announcement of the new aid also comes as Obama has come under increasing pressure from Syrian rebels working to topple the Assad regime and the larger international community for the U.S. to take a more active role in ending the bloodshed that has left 60,000 dead.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/01/29/obama-syria-aid/1873755/

[TwilightGardener]

1. How will we make sure the "right" people receive and distribute this aid?

I don't really trust any of the parties over there. Seems like every time we side with one group or another, we create unintended consequences.

[bemildred]

3. Ha ha ha ha. Where did you get the idea we do that?

Google "pallets of cash".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/feb/08/usa.iraq1

[TwilightGardener]

4. LOL, I know. Sometimes I ask questions just to hear myself talk...

[L0oniX]

2. Who is going to get that aid? Who is going to make sure it gets there?

There are Al-Qaeda group operatives involved. I'm all for aid ...to the right people but this IMO is going to lead to a more direct involvement. Who is going to also get involved for the other side? Israel is already threatening to take out the chemical stocks. This is going to be a mess.

[ancianita]

5. See? Foment a civil war or the appearance of a civil war, get Americans' hard-earned taxes.

After tens of thousands dead, in pours the money. Fuck that. We're "under no illusion," sayeth Obama? We are if we're to believe that we can't afford what we want to afford -- domestic spending included. Why shouldn't the EU itself "take a more active role in ending the bloodshed." We already subsidize their allegedly enlightened economies, so let them spend some of their military/war savings toward brokering peace in the ME.

I'm tired of these aid announcements. I'm not selfish by a long shot, but at some point, aiding 'rebel resistance' against entrenched rulers seems a little hypocritical, considering how brutal our own government was around the country toward peaceful protesters over the last two years.

[AlbertCat]

6. How about $ 155 million in aid of the USA?

Schools? Teachers? Infrastructure? Green energy?

[ButterflyBlood]

8. We've already done that.

All of those things have received way more $155 million apiece even in just the past year. $155 million is a very small percentage of the federal budget.

[AlbertCat]

10. All of those things have received way more $155 million apiece even in just the past year.

Good.... then they can also use a little more.

[Fearless]

15. +10000!

[fujiyama]

13. It may be a small percentage of the budget

but that small chunk of change could go a long way toward graduating thousands in Detroit public schools or provide decent meals for the thousands of kids living in poverty here. Or hell, it could go toward low interest loans for budding young entrepreneurs that could create jobs here at home...

Instead it will likely be funneled to corrupt factional chiefs, Jihadists, or somehow end up in Assad or his crony's pockets. Sorry, I'm so cynical. Don't get me wrong. I know people are suffering over there. I've been following Syria's civil war since it started and it's horrifying. Assad is a brutal thug, on the same level as Saddam or any other tyrant. And Jihadi elements have hijacked parts of the anti-Assad forces.

But I don't know how the hell aid even gets to the suffering in such crisis areas. I really hope the aid makes it to people that need it...

[ButterflyBlood]

14. How much aid to WWII resistance fighters ended up in the hands of communists?

Like take a look at the resistance in Greece, Italy and Yugoslavia. That doesn't mean that all anti-Nazis were communists obviously.

[Third Doctor]

7. That;s just what I was thinking.

I bet congress would try to block for some reason though.

[EastKYLiberal]

9. A drop in the bucket of the federal budget... but will mean a lot to those suffering in Syria. nt

[obama2terms]

11. I hope

The aid is given to the right people and no one over screws around with it.

[David__77]

12. Money to fund international terror.

This money will be used to, albeit indirectly, to buy guns, missiles, and bombs that will be used to kill Americans.

[pampango]

16. Juan Cole: It's humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees pledged at a UN donor's conference.

The UN donors’ conference in Kuwait made some progress on Wednesday morning toward its goal of $1 billion in aid to the some 700,000 Syrian refugees, many of whom are shivering in tents in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Kuwait stepped up big time, pledging $300 million. Kuwait has a long tradition of careful and well-executed development work. At the same time, President Obama pledged $155 million. Up until now, UN Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon had been complaining of the inadequacy of the international response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

http://www.juancole.com/2013/01/pledge-refugee-interview.html

[joshcryer]

17. All those refugees = international terrorists.

I guess.