US considering what to give Syrian rebels for their second birthday - Russia not invited to party - Polidicks

[img]http://imgkk.com/i/2ccl.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/20132276711736987.html[/url] [quote]The White House is considering a shift in policy towards the nearly two-year-long conflict in Syria, and may send body armour and armoured vehicles to rebels, and possibly provide military training as well, the Washington Post has reported citing US and European officials. John Kerry, US secretary of state, was expected to discuss the proposed policy change with officials during his nine-nation tour of European and Arab capitals, the newspaper said on Tuesday.[/quote]

Seems like it's a little late to be giving them APC's and training, especially now that theres radical factions in the FSA

Preferably not. We waited too long, radicals got too involved, and giving big guns now is just a new Iran in the making.

Didn't the SNC boycott international talks with the US or Russia a couple days ago? Plus Russia or other allies might use this as an excuse to send in jets and helicopters etc. (to assad)

Funny title, but I'm personally against this. I don't like the extremist elements plaguing the resistance, and anything we give them might just end up biting us in the ass like it did after we supported the Mujahideen 4 decades ago.

Kerry would probably give them a mouthful of 'no'

It's going to be a new radical Islamic state anyway. It's either "interfere and end the conflict altogether" or "don't touch it". Al Quaeda (or whatever radical organisation also present there) followers are not going to be grateful.

It's gonna end up a divided country and a haven for extremists, we acted to late. My biggest worry is WMDs, they have allot that could fall into the wrong hands. The whole country is just gonna end up in chaos.

[QUOTE='[sluggo];39737187']It's gonna end up a divided country and a haven for extremists, we acted to late. My biggest worry is WMDs, they have allot that could fall into the wrong hands. The whole country is just gonna end up in chaos.[/QUOTE] If things go south, I'm hoping the WMD's are secured by an outside power, legal operation or not.

Perhaps rehabilitation budget for the radicals?

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;39737212]If things go south, I'm hoping the WMD's are secured by an outside power, legal operation or not.[/QUOTE] I definitely hope that they are controlled, my other fear is that the government their gets close to the brink of loosing and decides to deploy them. Assad obviously doesn't care for morals much, and I could see him getting desperate.

[QUOTE=proch;39737308]Perhaps rehabilitation budget for the radicals?[/QUOTE] [I]They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said[/I] [B]Allahu Akbar![/B]

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;39737212]If things go south, I'm hoping the WMD's are secured by an outside power, legal operation or not.[/QUOTE] Israel has already proven that they will take that step They're extremely paranoid that there weapons will fall into the hands of there enemies

[QUOTE=proch;39737308]Perhaps rehabilitation budget for the radicals?[/QUOTE] Radical islamists tend to go to the grave with their ideals of forcing their religion on others, its going to be hard to rehabilitate unless they're willing to learn.

[QUOTE='[sluggo];39737322']I definitely hope that they are controlled, my other fear is that the government their gets close to the brink of loosing and decides to deploy them. Assad obviously doesn't care for morals much, and I could see him getting desperate.[/QUOTE] Desperate != suicidal. And deploying WMDs in his position is pretty much this. Even if you kill most of the people opposing you, you're now guilty in crime against humanity. [QUOTE=proch;39737308]Perhaps rehabilitation budget for the radicals?[/QUOTE] You mean, throw money at terrorists?

[QUOTE=gudman;39737162]It's going to be a new radical Islamic state anyway. It's either "interfere and end the conflict altogether" or "don't touch it". Al Quaeda (or whatever radical organisation also present there) followers are not going to be grateful.[/QUOTE] doubtful Last I checked, the FSA isn't made entirely of radical Islamist factions. There were radical factions fighting in Libya, and even reports and rumors that alqueda was involved, and things didn't really go south for them at all.

What? Is Syria likely to turn Islamist? I doubt that considering there are loads of factions at play.

Update [img]http://puu.sh/29sEH[/img] [editline]27th February 2013[/editline] [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/27/syria-crisis-usa-aid-idUSL1N0BRFEN20130227[/url]

How much do they supply the Syrian civilians? They should have priority over combatants when it comes to food, there is a real crisis at the moment when it comes to humanitarian aid for the civilians.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;39739651]doubtful Last I checked, the FSA isn't made entirely of radical Islamist factions. There were radical factions fighting in Libya, and even reports and rumors that alqueda was involved, and things didn't really go south for them at all.[/QUOTE] [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/libya-arrests-suspected-foreign-missionaries]Thi article begs to differ[/url] about Lybia. Radicals tend to easily hijack anything.

[QUOTE=deltasquid;39736881]Preferably not. We waited too long, radicals got too involved, and giving big guns now is just a new Iran in the making.[/QUOTE] Afghanistan, not Iran. The situation in Iran stemmed from supporting an oppressive ruler. The overthrow of the Shah of Iran is an entirely different situation. The training and weaponizing of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan is similar to this. We armed the rebel groups to fight off the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;39736851]Seems like it's a little late to be giving them APC's and training, especially now that theres radical factions in the FSA[/QUOTE] There'ave been radicals since day one, there always will be, when the outside world acts isn't going to change that.

[QUOTE=asteroidrules;39745009]There'ave been radicals since day one, there always will be, when the outside world acts isn't going to change that.[/QUOTE] It can change. If the outside power just interferes directly, instead of supporting one of the fighting factions. It opens up another can of worms though, worms with guns and shahid vests. In Syria's case, I think Turkey interfering could've been justified - after all, there were bombings, false flag or not.

[QUOTE=gudman;39745064]It can change. If the outside power just interferes directly, instead of supporting one of the fighting factions. It opens up another can of worms though, worms with guns and shahid vests. In Syria's case, I think Turkey interfering could've been justified - after all, there were bombings, false flag or not.[/QUOTE] There's still always going to be radicals, all you could change is how prominent they are.

[QUOTE=asteroidrules;39745078]There's still always going to be radicals, all you could change is how prominent they are.[/QUOTE] Yes, that's the can of worms I was talking about.

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;39744994]Afghanistan, not Iran. The situation in Iran stemmed from supporting an oppressive ruler. The overthrow of the Shah of Iran is an entirely different situation. The training and weaponizing of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan is similar to this. We armed the rebel groups to fight off the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[/QUOTE] Afghanistan is a much better comparison. Unfortunately it's also a good example of how a regional conflict can turn into a financial cluster-fuck when you're busy trying to buy off and support many different factions, some of them at war with each other as well as your enemy. Not to mention the price the US would have to pay to buy WMDs if they ever got loose.

[QUOTE=gudman;39744964][url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/libya-arrests-suspected-foreign-missionaries]Thi article begs to differ[/url] about Lybia. Radicals tend to easily hijack anything.[/QUOTE] They were arrested under a Gaddafi-era law by a semi-official body which will likely be dissolved within the next year. We can't make any judgements about Libya at least until they've written their new constitution, which won't be until some time next year