# U.S. to Provide Military Assistance to Syrian Rebels **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 13, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941 "2013-06-13T23:43:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/21 "2013-06-14T12:39:04Z")
Gah! I hate this. Anyway, has anyone seen an estimate of the costs involved? Is this being done under the authority of the AUMF, or is this under that enter-a-war-and-ask-congress-for-permission-later act? Where’s the Tea Party when you need them to insist upon cuts elsewhere before funding this boondoggle? [hijack]It really irks me that the president can go blithely in to a foreign conflict, but NY and NJ have to show up on bended knee to get bailed out after a natural disaster.[/hijack] Is there a chance that Russia joins in to help prop up the Assad side? They are pretty good buddies, right? What a disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/22 "2013-06-14T12:48:51Z")
This would be a great scenario for a book/RPG about the leadup to WWIII. Russia arming the Syrian government…US arming/aiding the rebels. Anyone wanna play “Twilight:2013”\* - has nothing to do with vampires ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/23 "2013-06-14T12:55:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Unless the CIA mind controlled Assad into having protestors shot, it wasn’t “arranged”. Did we already forget all of this started right after the anouncement of a great trade-route for Iran, through Syria? What a coincedence.. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/24 "2013-06-14T13:46:11Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Is there a chance that Russia joins in to help prop up the Assad side? They are pretty good buddies, right? Russia has been sending arms to Assad all along. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/25 "2013-06-14T14:20:28Z")
Taking sides in a Shi’a/Sunni Civil War and arming the side that has all the Al-Q types flocking to it? What could go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/26 "2013-06-14T14:26:27Z")
This time it’s Russia’s turn to play the cheese-eating surender monkey: err, what chemical weapons? > **[Russia dismisses US claims of Syrian chemical weapons use](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/14/russia-us-syria-chemical-weapons)** > > Moscow says evidence it has been shown 'does not look convincing', and cautions US against arming Syrian rebels _Paging Colin Powell_ ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/27 "2013-06-14T14:53:15Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > This time it’s Russia’s turn to play the cheese-eating surender monkey: err, what chemical weapons? > > [Russia dismisses US claims of Syrian chemical weapons use | Syria | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/14/russia-us-syria-chemical-weapons) > _Paging Colin Powell_ I no longer believe a word any western leader or intelligence agency says. Maybe one side is using them, maybe both, maybe neither. Who knows? All I do know is these people lie to get support for actions for real ends other than the stated ones. I don’t believe the USA, the UK or anyone else gives a shit about the people in Syria. To be fair - I don’t either. It’s a Civil War and I don’t care what set of murdering jackasses win. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/28 "2013-06-14T15:11:03Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > It really irks me that the president can go blithely in to a foreign conflict, but NY and NJ have to show up on bended knee to get bailed out after a natural disaster. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/29 "2013-06-14T15:29:06Z")
All’s I know is the US is gonna take shit if it intervenes or if it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/30 "2013-06-14T15:41:46Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > What I fear most is this turning into a neo-cons wet dream . . . I don’t think Obama figures in their dreams ever. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/31 "2013-06-14T15:43:06Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > Probably this. > The plan to oust Assad through an arranged “Popular Uprising, with absolutely positively no CIA or any US involvement whatsoever” is failing. :dubious: You are implying that such an American plan was in place before the war started and had something to do with it starting. Do you really believe that? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/32 "2013-06-14T15:44:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Why would you post that? > > From [The Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/05/mccain-syria-rebels-aid_n_3218839.html) > > Emphasis added. > > Now, I’m not in favor of this, but it sounds like Obama is pretty much in the same camp as McCain. Sorry; carried away in my mini-rant. The man is a war-monger, and I have grandsons of military age. It angers me that we are once again sticking our beak in where it doesn’t belong. Where’s the UN in all this? Why are we fighting yet another proxy war with Russia/China? Why can’t we learn from the past that this is just another boon for the military contractors and more death for more people? We never seem to learn that when we depose one despot, the radical loonies take over and hate us more fiercely than the previous thug. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/33 "2013-06-14T15:46:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :dubious: You are implying that such an American plan was in place before the war started and had something to do with it starting. Do you really believe that? Because, as we all know, the CIA never foments unrest in nations to further the “interests” of the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/34 "2013-06-14T15:52:14Z")
All I ask is if they are successful after our assistance they become long-time allies and advocates for our country in the region. Is that unrealistic? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/35 "2013-06-14T15:54:32Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > All I ask is if they are successful after our assistance they become long-time allies and advocates for our country in the region. Is that unrealistic? Yup, that’s unrealistic. Not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/36 "2013-06-14T15:55:56Z")
Hey, do you know what sound a plane patrolling a no-fly zone makes? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/37 "2013-06-14T16:06:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Where’s the UN in all this? The Washington Post has [this](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-concludes-syrian-forces-used-chemical-weapons/2013/06/13/59b03c66-d46d-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html) to say: > [@](#): > > The shipments, to begin in a matter of weeks, will be undertaken by the CIA. The agency has been the primary U.S. government interlocutor with the opposition’s Supreme Military Council, led by Gen. Salim Idriss. Such covert action requires a signed presidential finding. > > That method avoids what the administration previously has said are legal restraints on supplying arms for attacks against another government without approval by an international body such as the United Nations, according to U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity about intelligence matters. Notice too that at least some elements of our government seem to have no issue with the disclosure of classified and covert information when it suits their interest. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/38 "2013-06-14T16:40:31Z")
Say what: a signed presidential … finding? And a “signed presidential finding” “avoids legal restraints” regarding arming folks attacking that nations government. ‘signed presidential findings’ - who knew! ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/39 "2013-06-14T17:00:44Z")
If we must get involved we have to make a commitment to one side so that a decision is made and those poor people can get started rebuilding their country. Have we made the decision that we will not allow the rebel to lose? Are we going to give them just enough weapons to keep the conflict going? The worst possible situation is for two sides to pour arms into the conflict so that it stays balanced. Only the arms dealers, and maybe the CIA, win that war. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941/40 "2013-06-14T17:05:56Z")
The irony that breaks my heart is the thousands of Iraqis who fled to Syria to escape the unrest in Iraq will now flee…where? Back to Iraq? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-to-provide-military-assistance-to-syrian-rebels/660941.md?page=3)