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Subscribe to RSSThree foreign policy experts urged the United States Wednesday to do more to bring the violence in Syria to an end.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Martin Indyk, vice president and director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, James Dobbins, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND National Defense Research Institute, and Andrew Tabler, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, all agreed that the United States should start arming the Syrian opposition under the right conditions.
"At this point, given the direction of the conflict, I think that what we need to do is assess which groups could we and should we arm at what point, and make that decision," Tabler told the senators. "I think that we're actually at that decision given where the conflict is going."
Indyk agreed, but advocated for intervening in a "wise way."
Amateur video reportedly from Aleppo, Syria, shows destruction in the city, a nighttime rebel rally along with the schoolyard execution of some pro-Assad military forces. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports. Editor's Note: This video contains graphic material which some viewers may find disturbing.
UN: Syria using fighter jets against rebels with tanks
"We need to do it in a way that, first of all, we understand who we're supporting and what their intentions are," he said.
Dobbins echoed Tabler in saying that the time to make a decision on lethal aid to the opposition is now.
"The time has come to consider and pick those groups that are most consistent with our interest and our vision for the future and begin to advantage them in terms of the internal politics, by providing assistance, including perhaps money as well as arms and advice," he recommended.
For days the Syrian troops' weapons have given them the upper hand during key battles in Aleppo, but the rebels – now armed with powerful shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles -- are preparing for a different kind of fight. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
The experts also told the senators that the situation is going to worsen before it gets any better.
"The human suffering... is likely to increase, perhaps dramatically, and therefore what the United States does is not only important, but it is urgent," Indyk warned.
Dobbins raised the issue of al-Qaida taking advantage of the instability in Syria and said it should be a "real source of alarm."
"It would, for instance, be a great mistake to allow the leadership, the emerging leadership of Syria, to conclude that al-Qaida did more to help them prevail than did the United States," he said.
Tabler said he fears Washington's lack of support to the opposition will ultimately cause the government after Assad to be "suspicious and hostile" toward U.S. interests. "The reason is simple," he said. "Washington invested too much time in diplomacy at the United Nations instead of directly helping the Syrian people hasten Bashar al-Assad's demise."
Recent days have seen Syria's 16-month-old uprising transformed from an insurgency in remote provinces into a battle for control of the two main cities, Aleppo and the slightly smaller capital, Damascus, where fighting exploded last week.
Assad's forces have launched massive counter assaults in both cities.
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Intervene in this local civil war? Never, Never, Ever! A typical foolish quote in this article is "intervene in a wise way". That is not only foolish, it's a classic oxymoron! We have no business meddling in the affairs of this country and anything we do will be a mistake. Look at Egypt, all the rebels did was bring in a strict muslim society that will further damn this country to become an even more miserable, cruel, illiterate failed state.
Most of these experts are paid agents of Saudis, oil companies, lobbyists, Jewish lobbys and other vested interests.
Their expert advices or similar ones of experts fell flat on their faces on Iraqi wars and Afghan war.
Only Bush could have wars in Afghanistan and Iraq at the same time.
Both the places were never held for long by foreign forces.
How many experts predicted the falls from cliffs and warned Bush and co?
They were counting monies paid by the lobbyists and looked in other directions during those days.
In future wars on Syria, Iran and other places, it is better these "experts", oil company bosses, lobbyists better fight at least for a month before sending poor soldiers with imaginary stories!
These "experts" need to be strapped to the front fascia of a tank and driven into battle. Give them an up close and personal look at what they are advocating.
Should the rebels in the US South have been given aid to defeat the Lincoln regime? After all, the Lincoln regime was killing its own citizens by the wholesale lot (600,000 Americans died at the hands of those butchers). Shouldn't other nations have stepped up to drive those murderous scum from power? It is what the Obama regime has been advocating in Syria, what it did in Libya, and is what it has disastrously been doing from Tunisia to Afghanistan for the last 3.5 years. Never side with the legitimate government of a nation, always side with Islamist radicals. It is the Obama way.
Foriegn policy "experts" agree and advise Jimmy Carter to send weapons to arm the mujahadeen in Afghanistan. The Mujahadeen along with thier Al Qaida supporters are freedom fighters against Soviet supression...remember?
How naive we were. Let us know who the rebels are and what is their plan BEFORE we get involved.
Just because we call somebody an "expert" doesn't mean that they are. Assuming they are has a logical fallicy term called 'Appeal to Authority'.
When Washington solicited the French to help in the American revolution, he made the plan very clear BEFORE the French sent help and arms.
These Foreign Policy Experts have been wrong so many times in the past that people have lost count. Who is going to pay for thie "Intervention" into the internal problems of Syria? O'Bama has totally wrecked the U.S. Economy so there is no money to pay to interfer into the internal problems of Syria. The Rebels (Activist) started this Civil War and being destroyed, that is their problem because they should not have started what they can not finish. The U.S. can not continue to be the Policeman for the World. Countries ask the U.S. for assistance when they find they have started something they can't finish and then turn their backs on the U.S. when they have won their battle only because of U.S. Assistance. From now on anytime we give any assistance, those that take that assistance are expected to meet our demands for that assistance.
Yeah, right, intervene. I vote no!!!!!!!!!! That will only serve to bring Russia more into the fray. I say hold the line with what we are doing now. The current strategy should eventually wear down the regime and cause it to collapse. A pitiful proposition, I know, but I believe the alternative, though ending this thing quicker, would have severe consequences years to come.
Of course they do. Everyone want America to police the world but no one wants to pay so send their citizens to die. (a few do)
Here's an idea. Let's send them.
The hard truth: The more dead muslims the better.
@restore: Yeah, great idea! Let's do send in the "experts" and their male family members, then they will promote diplomacy. I'll bet these experts would also like to send the troops into a certain fast food chain that's famous for serving chicken sandwiches.
You guys are incredible! We are the United States of America and a beacon of hope around the world. How can you advocate sitting on our hands as Basha'ar Assad assaults his own cities with heavy weapons, killing over 20,000 civilians? How can you call for no action when thousands of male children have been tortured, having fingers and toes cut off and beaten?
Where is your sense of humanity and outrage over the crimes against humanity? The cost in blood and treasure will be far lower if we act today than to stand by and do nothing. Haven't we learned anything from WWII? Isolationism is a path to self destruction....
Ray in Jax: I do agree with your post. Read my post above #1.5 and I think you might see we have a thread of agreement.
Who are these people any way , most of them are lobbyist for Israel and they want us to intervene in every country that Israel does not like , How about if Syrians decided to come here and wisely intervene in our country , I wonder what we do , many Europeans reporters coming out now and showing the rebels and their terrorists way , killing civilians shooting an armed families just because they are thinking these people back Assad . Enough killing , we should be ashamed for backing these rebels knowing who they are , people they are the same people that attacked us on 9/11 , Assad and the Syrian never attacked the US , they even helped in the first Iraqi war . The Saudis and Qataris with the Turks are trying to rule that part of the world , and they are doing away with the Christians , and you all call your self's Christian's country . Its more like a Jewish and Muslim Extremists lovers here , politicians and Media .
I, for one, would be very interested to learn what foreign policy successes have been attributed to these experts. An "expert" in any field should be able to point to their specific achievements.
Start another Crusade. Arm the Christians, send armies of Christians from around the world and wipe out the . . . . . Oh, sorry, that's not politically correct.
Like they will love us even if we did arm them? Sending the rebels any kind of aid is just going to bite us in the ass when all is said and done. Anything we send them will be "too little" or "too late" for their liking and one terrorist group or another will end up with any arms or other "aid".
Now that Headline deserves a chuckle... 'Foreign Policy Experts?'... they mean Licensed 'Business' Brokers.
We will soon be facing the same or worse food shortages that inspired the 'Arab Spring', let's see what we spineless Americans will do in retaliation to our own self-serving corrupt government...
... press buttons in a voting booth and take the rest of the day off?
Cowards!
May not be food shortages, but prices will spike for sure. Turning 40% of our corn crop into ethanol during a severe drought is insane. As if we really need the ethanol to run this country. When gasoline and oil production are at record highs.
No food shortage, just sky high prices so the special interests can get their ethanol subsidies. While whole country pays in higher food costs. Ridiculous.
Tying our dinner table to our automobiles was a very bad idea to begin with. I predict Obama will sign an executive order suspending ethanol requirements due to the severe droughts.
Endless wars and bloodbaths. A bit disingenous to condemn Arab "terrorists" for doing what our "experts" say we should do.
Bring back the draft and let us see how eager everyone is to continue these insane military adventures.
This is getting out of hand don't make it worse with an intervention
It's been steadily getting worse without our intervention....
There is no strategic reason for our intervention. They have nothing we want or need. Hell, they (both sides) don't even like us.
Havent you heard now that repugnicans are blaming Obama for the cuts in defense budget scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1. Now all of a sudden yes the government does help create jobs. While argueing against this and denying funding for teachers, firefighterrs, construction projects for infastructure. Obstructing Obama's every jobs plan and jobs bill. Now all of a sudden we need to keep spending this funds because of the jobs.
See we need customers for those 1 million apiece missiles, and hundred thousand dollars rocket launcers. It keeps good reliable voting repugnicans in good paying jobs back at the defense contractors factories.
We must keep their jobs secure. This is only type of government jobs repugnicans thing the government should fund or provide. Sorry , sorry, war mongerer's
we have absolutely no reason to get involved. Our country is NOT the policemen of the world. We do not need to waste our money on even one more middle east country who does not even want our help and who will just use our money against us. STAY OUT. let them fight their own war
Oh HEL! whats another million or two after spending trillions in Afghansistan and Iraq. Few million drops in the buckedt compared to the trillions spent on those wars bankrupting this country.
Lets throw in a few tax cuts while spending these trillions on wars too. That way we reach that fiscal cliff a lot quicker. And maybe even force the end of Social Security and Medicare as we know it.
Cause our strategy to bankrupt this country will have succeded! Spending trillions on two wars while simultenously cutting revenue, and cutting taxes. yeah that should do it.
Funny how the CEO of Bain Capital made his millions by bankrupting companies they took over, sucking out all their assets. Must be a repugnican trait, their best strategy to amass personal wealth. By bankrupting others.
How many more american service men and women can we kill and put us more in the hole.
How many more innocent men and women must die as you advocate we sit on our hands and do nothing?
these same so called "experts" supported aid to Afghanistan and Iraq. that was a mistake from start to finish. to many Americans died so they could be "free". the problem is that they have no understanding of what a free,democratic society is all about. it is not in the national interest of the US to get involved in Syria in any manner what so ever.
let the Saudis, and even the French put in a no fly zone. We have been played around the world too much. It is not our job to be world cop. WE need to become a neutral country then maybe we wouldnt be so hated around the world too. China never helps anyone but themselves, we look the other way and keep buying their cheap goods when we should put a 30 percent tax on their goods and an extra tax on usa companies who send their production abroad. Lets stop being the world idiots!
This is B.S. !!! Let Europe, Russia, China etc... support them. Why do we need to do it? It's not our war nor is it our responsibility to do so. The fighting in the middle east has been ongoing since time began and will continue until time ends. Study history of the middle east. No matter what happens, they will continue to fight each other. So sad... I just opened the door to my "Golden Years". I am so glad I didn't bring anymore life into this messed up world. December 21, 2012!
My dear Catherine Chomiak,
I am Sid Harth.
God almighty has heard you. Reuters received an exclusive, secret orders that Barack Obama signed, sealed and delivered to the CIA to arm the terrorists and provide them with secret intel that Uncle Sam gathers thru his various sources.
My blog post covering the latest assassinations, executions, mass hysteria (in US media only) is getting the largest number of hits.
Ask Google.
Seriously, Human Rights in Syria?
Posted on August 1, 2012 by admin
Seriously, Human Rights in Syria? | वसुधैव कुटुंबकम
www.webworldismyoyster.com/…/seriously-human-rights-in-s…
10 minutes ago – Of Democracy in Tunisia, Sarah Bush and I | वसुधैव कुटुंबकम … Syrian Opposition Accused of Serious Human Rights Abuses | Syria …
Nice to meet you Sid! I'am little Lord Fauntleroy and I think it is no one's business outside of Syria, what happens inside Syria!
If it gets too crazy around the edges, the Israel's will wipe the desert with the Islamists as they have several times since 1948!
No worrys mate!
3 so called "foreign policy experts" saying we need to get more involved in another ME countrie's civil war?
These basterds are insane! Make them go first! Give them Kevlar vests and an M-16, several RPG's and 500 rounds!
Not a single American GI or armed forces person, unless you mean mercenaries that will do it for $1000 a day!
here we go...here we go...here we goooooooooooooooo, UHH!
No...................not our troops......not our money
Mr. Tabler is correct. If we don't give the support now when its needed most, and Al Queda does. Whom do you think is going to have the greatest influence? Who will be viewed with supspcicion and mistrust? Those that only used words with not enough actions to back them up!
Mr. Tabler is correct. If we don't back up our words with enough actions now and Al Queda does offer the support needed at this crucial time. We will viewed with suspicion and mistrust afterwards. Now is when it is most needed. Now is when those that provided what was truley needed will be remembered and those that only provided words with not enough actions will be remembered also. The time to act is now!
Just another rationale to intervene in another Middle East war.
It's not our business. We can't afford it. Let them fight it out. If the Saudis or the French want to intervene, go right ahead. But the USA has been in too many Middle East wars, spent too much of out national treasure on Middle East wars. We have enough problems right here at home.
Remember, we are borrowing $.40 for every dollar the Federal Government spends. I don't want to borrow any money to help the al Qaida "rebels" in Syria - or any "rebels" in Syria.
No money, no troops, no material - nothing.
reply to Penny Yates: We spend billions and a decade fighting Al Queda in Afghanistan. Does not make sense to leave the door open to them in Syria. When for a few million, drops in the bucket compared to the decade billions bankrupting this country in Afghanistan.
After all they are not asking for our boots on the ground. Only the weapons they need to fight for themselves.
This are professional soldiers defecting from the regular Army. Brave and trained soldiers unafraid to fight for a just cause. All they ask is for weapons not just words from us.
Why should we intervene? There is nothing worth intervening for. Syria is an aversarial country. Who happens to run it is a matter of indifference. Whoever it is will not be a plus for the US.
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Here the experts go again!
Compare Saddam and Assad to Sunni Saudi ruler and co!
Just check all languages of the experts, media, UN, human rights groups, media and others!
See the jokes going in Syria with Sunni Saudi rebels, al-Qaida, MB on one side and the Assad’s forces on the other sides!
If atrocities and barbarism on girls, children and women are the criteria, then the most despotic, autocratic and bigoted Sunni Saudi ruler with his 5000 princes and princesses, Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League Sunni rulers and their rich sheiks are the biggest culprits in the history.
Through the Muslim immoral trafficking gangs, these barbarians have assembled all varieties of poor and helpless girls and women from all over the world in their harems and brothels.
In killing of opponents again, these people have established world records.
If the US, Britain and others support such Sunni barbarians and beasts who treat girls and women as cheap sex slaves, then one can only conclude that Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists determine what to see, how to lecture and where and when to act.
Rest like “human rights”, “killing of children and women”, “militants”, “terrorists”, “WMDs”, “chemical weapons” and so on are a pure hoax.
Similar hoaxes were played each time before Iraqi wars on directions of Saudi, oil companies and their lobbyists.
In many nations, Pakis and those from Bangladesh are into counterfeit currency circulations. These monies are again diverted to Islamic radical and terrorist organizations like al-Qaida, Taliban and other label ones.
Now none of them are looking into Iraq, where at least a million have been killed and devastated.
Twice are too much to tolerate.
American
decision makers want a pro-Western government installed in Syria and they
cannot be stopped. Assad and those that have benefited from his regime have to
step aside and grant the wishes of those that are richer and more powerful. It hurts
to lose a good deal but it is less painful than being sodomized by a Gadhafi
stick.
The Middle East is no more capable of democracy than my Aunt Fanny is of flying around the moon under her own power. The "Arab Spring" delivered Egypt into the hands of the Moslem Brotherhood. This civil war in Syria could deliver Syria into the hands of al Qaeda. The "fear" that the "rebels" will like al Qaeda better than the US so that's why we should arm the rebels is baloney.
It's not our business. And - how can we afford to pay for another war in the Middle East?
We have to respect their political process. As long as the people are afforded a chance to vote... We might not like the results, but we have to respect their choice. After 40 years of a dictator type leadership, the Syrian people are fed up.