Re: PFTF Feb 9 2012
Report: US and allies 'considering plans' for military aid to Syrian rebels

The U.S. and its allies were considering giving military aid to the Syrian opposition battling the regime of President Bashar al Assad in an 11-month uprising that activists say has killed more than 6,000 people.

The Pentagon had drawn up contingency plans which could include supplying the Free Syrian Army (FSA) with weapons and establishing a humanitarian corridor to deliver aid to civilians, The (London) Times reported Thursday, citing a U.S. official.

While U.S. officials said they were "scoping out" military options, any plans at the moment were purely "academic."




Several nations have already been aiding the rebels, with Saudi Arabia providing financial assistance and Qatar supplying them with 3,000 satellite phones. Qatar was also deliberating giving the FSA night-vision equipment and anti-tank missiles.

The FSA's logistical coordinator Sheikh Zuheir Abassi told The Times the rebels wanted the West to provide no-fly zones and a haven from which they could safely operate.

"If we were given these two, most of the army would desert and join us," Abassi said. "We are not asking the West to intervene but to give us weapons. We can do the rest." Some 40,000 soldiers have deserted the regular army to date, the opposition said.

The request for military aid was reiterated during a video conference call that was broadcast in Washington on Wednesday.

Speaking to Middle East experts and journalists at a national security think tank, rebels inside Syria said the U.S. in particular should harden its policies against Assad and find a way to shuttle guns, rocket launchers and other heavy weapons to rebels, AFP reported.

"The major point is logistical material support. We can do this ourselves, we're not asking for any troops," an FSA commander, who identified himself only as Mohammad, said.

"We want military support. We want supplies," he said. "We have the numbers on our side, we just don't have the weapons."

"We are facing a death machine that is one of the worst in the world," Mohammad said, adding that his poorly-armed rebels were using "light weapons to battle tanks."

However, a Syria expert warned against military intervention, saying the escalating crisis could become even more complicated, with the West backing the rebels and Russia and China standing behind Assad's regime.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02 ... z1lsAUAoVC
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In loving memory of my son Chris April 12 1985-June 19 2007


I don’t think it’s a matter of “is it coming.” I think that it’s already here, it’s just a matter of perspective. From one perspective, our frog friends are telling us that we should be grateful that the “spa” is hot and luxurious. From the cook’s perspective… another 10 minutes and we’ll be dinner.