Pentagon to deploy 400-plus troops to train and equip Syrian opposition

Natural Citizen · Jan 16, 2015

AFP Photo / Wakil Kohsar

The US military has announced it will send about 400 specialists and hundreds more “enabling forces” to train the rebel Syrian opposition as Washington takes its fight against the Assad government and Islamic State to a new level.

The Pentagon mission, expected to begin as early as March, envisions US specialists training Syrian opposition forces from military bases in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, Cmdr. Elissa Smith, a Defense Department spokeswoman, was quoted by the Army Times as saying.

In addition to the 400 military specialists, so-called “enabling forces,” which are to serve as a security detail, will also accompany the trainers, Smith said.

The US-led coalition, which began its bombing campaign over Syrian territory against the jihadist forces of Islamic State [also known as ISIS, or ISIL] in September 2014, includes Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Arab states will be expected to contribute troops to the US operation, which expects to train about 5,400 rebel forces each year for three years, according to Defense One, which first broke the news on the number of US specialists preparing for deployment.

News of the Pentagon’s mission to train Syrian rebels, some of whom are reported to be affiliated with terrorist organizations including al-Qaeda, has already attracted criticism from those who say the US military offensive against Islamic State forces in Syria, carried out without the consent of Damascus, is a thinly veiled effort to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

Continued - Pentagon to deploy 400-plus troops to train and equip Syrian opposition

pcosmar · Jan 16, 2015

They just don't fucking learn.

Natural Citizen · Jan 16, 2015

pcosmar said:
They just don't fucking learn.

Gas on the fire.

Cap · Jan 16, 2015

My guess, is that they were already there.

pcosmar · Jan 16, 2015

Cap said:
My guess, is that they were already there.

Some were. This is more,,and publicly stated. (maybe?) (sent to Jordan?)

Anyone remember when we were sending advisers to Vietnam?

Over something the French were mucking around in? (and getting their asses kicked)

Where did the ISIS get their training and weapons? (funneled through Turkey)

Are these not obvious questions?

HOLLYWOOD · Jan 16, 2015

Empire of Chaos... everyone of those "so-called" rebels would be labeled a terrorist in a honest world. Aiding in so many ways, known terrorists... CIA Libya & Egypt recruiting, training, and arming, was somewhat covert, but now it's just outright war against Syria.

AngryCanadian · Jan 16, 2015

Oh Turkey and Qatar. What bunch of democratic bunch and Turkey the same country that is letting ISIS come through they just wont give up on these terrorists.

There are no moderates.

ZENemy · Jan 16, 2015

Im done.

http://www.peacetaxfund.org/

http://nwtrcc.org/AudioInterviews/

AuH20 · Jan 16, 2015

pcosmar said:
They just don't fucking learn.

This is all they know.

pcosmar · Jan 16, 2015

69360 · Jan 16, 2015

Train?

From what I have seen of this war, it's fairly primitive.

All the factions hide behind something and randomly fire AK's in each other's direction until one side gets scared and leaves the town they held. Throw in some pilfered artillery and aim in the general direction of an enemy, rinse and repeat.

Assad had some decent gear at the start of the war, put now are reduced to about the level of IS and the opposition.

This will grind on for years unless Russian or US are on the ground. Not that I want that.

thoughtomator · Jan 16, 2015

HOLLYWOOD said:
Empire of Chaos... everyone of those "so-called" rebels would be labeled a terrorist in a honest world. Aiding in so many ways, known terrorists... CIA Libya & Egypt recruiting, training, and arming, was somewhat covert, but now it's just outright war against Syria.

In an honest world, nobody would be labeled a terrorist. The word is inherently dishonest and subjective.

enhanced_deficit · Jan 16, 2015

No biggie, it is just a "five year problem" being create by neocons.

Sort of like "ten year problem" that was created in Afghanistan in 70s that unfortunately ended up being 40 year problem and counting.

Bad news for modern women of Syria though and all the population.

Photo Essay: Crash course on origins of Al Qaeda

Afghanistan in 1970s before the US intervention with Saudi/Israeli help:

And then came the trainers of Jihadi freedom fighters :

USA prints textbooks to support Jihad in Afghanistan and Pakistan

http://supportdanielboyd.wordpress....ks-support-jihad-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

US/Saudi/Israeli backed Afghani Jihadis with help from foreign fighters like OBL defeat invading Russian "infidels" triggering collapse of Russian economy and eventual collapse of USSR. Israel was second largest supplier of weapons to Jihadi "freedom fighters" in Afghanistan. Saudis helped with funding of the great Afghan Jihad and by flooding the market with cheap oil (prices dropped from over $100 p/b to $20 p/b) to hit Russian economy at the same time.

1980s/90s:
With collapse of USSR following "success" of Afghan Jihad, Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel/Palestinian territories and settlements growth explodes
Palestinians and Arab street angered by new settlers influx and continuous settlements expansion

Jewsih Immigration from Former Soviet Union to Israeli

[TABLE="width: 55%, align: center"]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 15%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 42%, bgcolor: #CCCCCC"]Total Immigrants to Israel[/TD]
[TD="width: 42%, bgcolor: #CCCCCC"]Immigrants from F.S.U.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: xl31, bgcolor: #00FF00"]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]Total[/TD]
[TD="width: 42%, align: center"]

3,108,678