Obama May Allow Air Defense Help For Syria Rebels - AP/HuffPo

[WillyT]

Obama May Allow Air Defense Help For Syria Rebels
by JULIE PACE - AP/HuffPo
Posted: 03/28/2014 12:08 pm EDT Updated: 03/28/2014 3:59 pm EDT

<snip>

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The Obama administration is considering allowing shipments of new air defense systems to Syrian rebels, a U.S. official said Friday.

President Barack Obama's possible shift would likely be welcomed by Saudi Arabia, which has been pressing the White House to allow the man-portable air-defense systems, known as "manpads," into Syria. Obama arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening for meetings with King Abdullah.

Allowing manpads to be delivered to Syrian rebels would mark a shift in strategy for the U.S., which until this point has limited its lethal assistance to small weapons and ammunition, as well as humanitarian aid. The U.S. has been grappling for ways to boost the rebels, who have lost ground in recent months, allowing Syrian President Bashar Assad to regain a tighter grip on the war-torn nation.

The actual manpad shipments could come from the Saudis, who have so far held off sending in the equipment because of U.S. opposition.

The president is not expected to announce a final decision on the matter during his overnight trip to the Gulf kingdom. U.S. and Saudi intelligence officials have been discussing the possibility of injecting manpads into the crisis for some time, including during a meeting in Washington earlier this year.

As recently as February, the administration had said Obama remained opposed to any shipments of manpads to the Syrian opposition. The U.S. has been concerned that the weaponry could fall into the wrong hands and possibly be used to shoot down a commercial airliner.

Among the reasons for Obama's shift in thinking is...

<snip>

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/28/obama-syria_n_5050116.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. That worked out ever so well in Afghanistan.

[newfie11]

2. +infinity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nt

[1000words]

3. Good thing Obama and Kerry avoided getting sucked into this one.

[okaawhatever]

4. I think the bigger reason for Obama reconsidering is because the rebel groups have now

formed two larger coalitions. The Southern Front has the moderates and the al Qaeda types have joined with a group in the Northern area. Like they said in the story, though, Obama wants to make sure this doesn't escalate the firepower involved. Russia may back off giving Assad more weapons since Assad ad Putin didn't keep their timetable for removing chemical weapons.

[ProSense]

5. The White House

As recently as February, the administration had said Obama remained opposed to any shipments of manpads to the Syrian opposition. The U.S. has been concerned that the weaponry could fall into the wrong hands and possibly be used to shoot down a commercial airliner.

..."position had not changed."

Obama, Saudi king discuss Syrian rebels, Iran, Gulf security

By Jeff Mason

<...>

One area where Riyadh has long differed from Washington is in Obama's reluctance to supply rebels with surface-to-air missiles, sometimes known as MANPADS.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that the U.S. was ready to increase covert aid to Syrian rebels under a new plan which included training efforts by the CIA, and was considering supplying MANPADS.

The White House has not closed the door to the possibility of such a move in the future, but an official said its position had not changed.

Obama has shown himself wary of being drawn into another conflict in the Muslim world after working hard to end or reduce American military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

- more -

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/28/uk-obama-saudi-idUKBREA2R15X20140328

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024743736

[Maedhros]

6. No, sir, I don't like it. [n/t]

[WillyT]

8. Me Neither...

[jamzrockz]

7. I think its high time

we admit the goal of regime change has failed and its just better we just let the fighting stop. The people of Syrians have suffered enough already.