Pentagon training only 60 Syrian rebels against ISIS

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Hill

The Pentagon is only training 60 Syrian opposition rebels in its plan to fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday.

Carter revealed the number during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing and acknowledged it was a disappointing figure.

"I expect that number to improve but you deserve to know the truth," he told senators.

The low numbers drew criticism from members of the Senate panel and could add to the growing skepticism of the program, which is a central part of the administration's strategy to defeat the terrorist group in Syria without having to send in U.S. ground forces.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/247060-pentagon-only-training-60-syrian-rebels-against-isis

[geek tragedy]

1. On the other hand, that's 100% of the moderates, nt

[OnlinePoker]

2. $500 million to train 60?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-backs-us-military-training-for-syrian-rebels/2014/06/26/ead59104-fd62-11e3-932c-0a55b81f48ce_story.html

[jalan48]

3. And what's it costing us to train these 60?

It would be interesting to see the price tag for all the corporate/military support. Just saw the above post-thanks for the answer.

[Sparhawk60]

7. Cost is Around $500 Mill

Give me $450 mill and I can put together a mercenary group that can do the job better. Sparhawk's Slammers have a nice ring to it.

[GreatGazoo]

4. maybe we don't want to fight ISIS

Maybe ISIS is the agent provacteur which give us an excuse to stay in Iraq AND topple Assad.

According to John McCain, they urged Obama to "arm ISIS" two years ago. And, by sending arms to the "moderates (?)" who then gave them to ISIS, we have armed ISIS:

[yurbud]

6. indisputable on Syria, and I suspect you're right on Iraq. Bush accidentally gave Iraq to Shi'ites

and our buddies the Saudis are using ISIS to put in back in the Sunni (and therefore Western) column.

[Darb]

5. 60 have been fully vetted. 7,000 in the process

of being vetted. As you can imagine, it is probably a pain in the ass to figure out who is who. With all the crazy over there, it should take a while to cull out the nuts.

[lark]

8. Maybe that's not a bad thing?

ISIS got it's big push with American munitions and our training them in Syria. Since we can't seem to tell true friend from foe, better to not fund anyone than to continue supporting ISIS.

[bobthedrummer]

9. The Pentagon's Spies (The National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book 520)

"On April 20, 2012 Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta formally established a new Department of Defense spy organization-the Defense Clandestine Service/DCS..."
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB520-the-Pentagons-Spies

Yep-" we deserve to know the truth..." you are supposed to work for US as in we, the people.

[AngryAmish]

10. Twenty good men is all that is needed.

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