U.S. Intelligence Official Says Syrian War Could Last for Years

[alp227]

Source: New York Times

ASPEN, Colo. — A senior American intelligence official on Saturday warned that the Syrian conflict could last “many, many months to multiple years,” and described a situation that would most likely worsen regardless of whether the Syrian leader, President Bashar al-Assad, fell.

The comments by David R. Shedd, the deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, were one of the strongest public warnings about how the civil war in Syria has deteriorated, and he seemed to imply that the response from the United States and its allies had so far been lacking.

Mr. Shedd suggested that in addition to strengthening the more secular groups of the fractious Syrian opposition — which the Obama administration has promised to arm with weapons and ammunition — the West would have to directly confront more radical Islamist elements. But he did not say how that could be accomplished.

“The reality is that, left unchecked, they will become bigger,” Mr. Shedd told the Aspen Security Forum, an annual meeting on security issues. “Over the last two years they’ve grown in size, they’ve grown in capability, and ruthlessly have grown in effectiveness.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/world/middleeast/us-intelligence-official-says-syrian-war-could-last-for-years.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Sending more weapons ought to help. n/t

[mallard]

2. Yes, let's speed it up ...

... with more weapons faster. That way it will be more like Iraq quicker and the peace will hold for centuries thereafter.

Except for Lebanon, all these countries were peaceful and fairly economically viable places before the 9/11 false flag operation got in their way.

Meanwhile, an independent Palestinian state will have to wait.

Thank you for nothing but death and destruction Mr Shedd and all earth-shaking warmonger neocons.

[quadrature]

3. what is the downside to this? .nt

[blkmusclmachine]

4. They'll keep investing in these new wars, until they've bled the US of all its wealth.

[bemildred]

5. I could have told them that years ago. nt

[John2]

6. I'm just

sitting at home in America being an observer. I'm not on either side. I am looking at the reports coming from all sides though and think I have an idea of what is going on.

Assad is still there, after reports were being made of his government's demise.
The rebels are not making demands Assad leave now, but instead complaining about Assad massacreing women and children. I guess the chemical strategy isn't working?

On the Assad side, they are claiming they are killing a lot of Terrorists from the fake Free Syrian Army. They also claim they are recapturing a lot of territory and destroying secret weapon stashes from , Saudi Arabia,Turkey, Qatar and Israel. They even claimed they discovered chemical supplies from Saudi Arabia. Another claim is the Terrorists are fighting each other over territory and loot.

Now the kurds claim they aren't fighting for autonomy but to kick the Terrorists out their towns. So which side are they on? I seen alleged reports they offered to help the Syrian Army kick the Terrorists out of Aleppo and their towns. It seems like they have fought the rebels and Turkey more than they have fought Assad? They also told the Syrian Government about supply routes from Turkey.

Then you got the Britisn Prime Minister saying the Syrian Government has gotten stronger and it is a stalemate now. He also called them evil because they are murdering women and children.

You got kerry and the potential UN Ambassador accusing Assad of genocide and Israel should have a seat on the Security Council because her commitment to Human Rights shouldn't be questioned. The Palestinians should accept their offer without any pre conditions. They also proclaim the Governments of Venezuela, North Korea, Iran and Syria are rogues. There are probably more but I have a bad memory.

And you have the change of Government in Egpyt becuse the Army claims Morsi wasn't fit to rule. The Muslim Brotherhood's call for all Egyptians to carry out Jihad and regime change in Syria has been put on hold, due to regime change in Egypt. While Israel,Saudi Arabia and Qatar offer monetary donations to the Army but Turkey demands Morsi back in office.

I think somebody is winning and somebody is desperate.