France wants to be able to arm Syrian rebels

[dipsydoodle]

14. West tiptoes into Syrian war hoping to boost more secular rebels

(Reuters) - France, Britain and the United States are inching towards providing military aid to Syria's rebels, hoping to beef up more secular forces at the expense of radical Islamists who are gaining ever more prominence in the uprising.

The bitter experience of Afghanistan, where the American arming of anti-Soviet mujahedeen forces in the 1980s helped to give rise to the Taliban and al Qaeda, hangs heavy in the air.

And as in Libya, the leaders of Britain and France seem keener than U.S. President Barack Obama to get more involved.

But with Saudi Arabia and Qatar already openly arming the Syrian rebels, Britain and France - both committed with Washington to seeing President Bashar al-Assad leave - want at least to make sure that weapons go to the "right" groups and are not so advanced that they could pose a threat to the West.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/14/uk-syria-crisis-west-idUKBRE92D13120130314