U.S. begins vetting Syrian rebels for military training: Pentagon

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. begins vetting Syrian rebels for military training: Pentagon

BY DAVID ALEXANDER
WASHINGTON Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:09pm EST

(Reuters) - The U.S. military has begun vetting a group of Syrian rebels eligible for training and assistance in the fight against Islamic State militants, a step that paves the way for training to begin in weeks, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said about 100 moderate Syrian rebels had been vetted to participate in the training and assistance effort, with no derogatory information uncovered to weigh against their involvement.

Kirby said 1,500 other potential candidates had been identified and were awaiting more rigorous screening before being admitted to the program.

"Our assessment is we could be ready sometime within the next four to six weeks to begin actual training," Kirby told a Pentagon briefing, noting that the vetting was "an important first step."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/27/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-idUSKBN0LV2K620150227

[AZ Mike]

1. This should go swimmingly.

I'm certain there will be no blowback ever.

[Scootaloo]

2. Meanwhile, in Ukraine...

[Maedhros]

3. What could go wrong? [n/t]