Obama weighs sending shoulder-fired missiles to Syrian rebels

[unhappycamper]

http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-obama-saudi-arabia-syria-manpads-20140328,0,3143330.story



President Obama and Saudi King Abdullah meet with interpreters nearby at the monarch's desert camp northeast of Riyadh.

Obama weighs sending shoulder-fired missiles to Syrian rebels
By Kathleen Hennessey and Christi Parsons
March 28, 2014, 2:26 p.m.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Obama is weighing whether to allow shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles to be shipped to moderate factions of the Syrian opposition, possibly with help from the Saudi government, a U.S. official said Friday.

Obama is considering sending man-portable air defense systems, known as “manpads,” along with other supplies to help opposition groups fighting the brutal regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, said the official, who requested anonymity to talk about the internal White House discussions.

The Saudi government has long wanted to provide such armaments to bolster the Syrian opposition. The U.S. has opposed the move out of concern that the weapons could fall into the hands of extremists. Out of respect for Obama’s wishes, the Saudis have so far held off.

The president and his advisors still have concerns about proliferation, but over time, the United States has become more familiar and comfortable with the opposition forces in Syria, the official said.

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What could possibly go wrong?

[rdharma]

1. I think I've seen this movie before....

.... staring Ronny Raygun and the Mujahideen (with stingers).

The Mujahideen later changed their stage name to the Taliban.

[Faux pas]

2. Bingo!

Then, sometime in the future, some rethuglican president will invade Syria to take down the puppet government we helped set up sheesh.

[pjt7]

3. Disgusting that we are backing Al-Queda types

waging war inside Syria.