Senate Committee Votes to Authorize Arms for Syrian Rebels

[Comrade Grumpy]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—A key Senate committee overwhelmingly approved legislation Tuesday that calls for the U.S. to provide small arms to moderate Syrian opposition groups fighting strongman Bashar al-Assad, underscoring growing sentiment among lawmakers for a change in the U.S. approach to the conflict.

The 15-3 vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee showed broad support from both Democrats and Republicans for arming the rebels, though some lawmakers from each party voiced concern over the difficulty of ensuring the weapons aren't misused and won't slip into the hands of radical Islamists aligned with al Qaeda.

<snip>

President Barack Obama rebuffed a proposal last year to arm moderate rebel groups despite support for the move by top cabinet members, including the then-Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In recent weeks, however, Mr. Obama and his advisers have begun looking anew at the option of providing arms to moderate rebels groups, possibly in concert with key allies Britain and France, according to senior administration officials.

<snip>

Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who has been an outspoken critic of Mr. Obama's response to the Syria crisis, said the legislation "sends a signal to the administration" that it needs to get more involved in helping end the crisis in Syria. But Mr. McCain said more action will be needed beyond providing small arms "if we are going to reverse the tide that's now taking place in favor of Bashar Assad." Sen. McCain said the rebels need heavier weapons that those authorized to be transferred under the current Senate bill.


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324787004578497431182221210.html

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Yee-haw!! (Why does that image of the guy riding the nuclear bomb from Dr. Strangelove come to mind?)

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Some dissenting voices on the committee

From the article in the OP:

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) warned of the dangers of arming rebel forces whose intentions are unknown. "I think we have to ask the question, Who are we arming?" Sen. Udall asked fellow senators. "To tell you the truth, I don't think we know who we're arming. The truth is it changes every day."

Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, said lawmakers who supported the legislation were in effect supporting the provision of arms to rebel groups that are "the allies of al Qaeda," referring to the Islamist al-Nusra Front, a powerful rebel force in the insurgency against Mr. Assad. "It's an irony you cannot overcome," Mr. Paul said.

[dballance]

2. This is so stupid. Apparently we've already forgotten we used to arm Bin Laden in Afghanistan

And Saddam Husein too. Why am I betting the gun and ammo manufacturers are rejoicing? Wonder what their stocks did on the announcement?

[MrSlayer]

3. Why arm a bunch of jihadists?

This is ridiculously stupid. I hope Obama vetoes.

Yeah, right.

[BlueToTheBone]

4. Money to kill but no money to care for people.

What a weird world we live in.

[John2]

5. They disrespect

the American people with their shady deals by going over us without our approval. The money they use to prosecute their Wars belongs to the American people. If they were using private sources, it wouldn't be a problem but they are stealing from funds that belong to this country. Did these politicians go back to their constituents and get approval to spend their tax dollars in Syria? That is the problem with Congress. They are serving everybody else's interests except the American people. They should not be telling us, We should be telling them what to spend our money on. I rather for money to go to feeding Americans and Aid for disasters than providing weapons to rebels or Terrorists to overthrow a Government Congress don't like. It was a slippery slope and it is still one. There will always be someone coming to the U.S. asking for a handout. Congress don't have any sympathy with their own people but they sure got plenty for the rest of the World or do they have something in it for their own greedy self interests?

[Pragdem]

6. There are far more secular rebels than jihadists. nt

[John2]

8. Why don't you supply

us with the armed groups fighting in Syria and their numbers? Do you have the names of all the commanders in the opposition and the numbers of their Forces? When they get on the battle field, who is distributing these arms? Can you discount the reports of Free Syrian Army personnel going over to these Jihadist groups? And can you verify where these weapons end up once units are destroyed and captured by the Government forces? Do they have thousands of prisoners that were captured?

[David__77]

9. Who cares, even if that were true?

Most Cambodians fighting with Pol Pot weren't maniacs, but they supported one getting into power.

[Dawson Leery]

7. 15 morons voted to arm Al Qaeda!

Are they that stupid?

[David__77]

10. The three are right.

Rand Paul included. Not one cent for al Qaeda!