the back door ? And how will they 'help' them ? http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/15/us-syria-crisis-usa-sanctions-idUSBRE92E0TP20130315 U.S. exempts Syria's opposition forces from sanctions (Reuters) - The U.S. government said Friday it would allow American citizens, companies and banks to send money to Syrian opposition forces struggling to topple President Bashar al-Assad. The Treasury Department move exempts Syrian rebels from broad U.S. sanctions against aid to Syria imposed at the beginning of the 2-year-old government crackdown on opposition forces that has killed an estimated 70,000 people. "The United States is committed to supporting the Syrian people's aspirations for a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, inclusive, and peaceful Syria," said the Treasury Department, which controls financial sanctions. "The Syrian government has sacrificed all legitimacy in its violent attempts to cling to power." The news comes as France and Britain have pushed the European Union to lift an EU arms embargo to allow weapon supplies to flow to Syrian rebels, a move the rest of the European Union rejected on Friday. The United States has already said it would provide medical supplies and food directly to opposition fighters, but has ruled out sending arms for fear they may find their way to Islamist hardliners who might then use them against Western targets. Backing the Syrian opposition is increasingly seen as the only leverage foreign powers have in trying to support the uprising against al-Assad. Treasury said it would continue to put economic pressure on Assad's government through other financial sanctions, as well as targeted sanctions on Syrian government officials and their supporters. In 2011, the United States froze all Syrian assets in the United States and barred U.S. citizens from making new investments or exporting services to Syria, in addition to other sanctions on specific banks and individuals imposed earlier. On Friday, the Treasury issued a general license on dealings with the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, which eases restrictions but leaves sanctions laws on the books. (Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Doina Chiacu) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/mid...a-crisis-rebel-war-crimes-rising-amnesty-live
I wasn't around for, or at least old enough to appreciate, when the Mujahadeen were supported in their war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, but we were all told how that policy came to bite us in the ass later. Was there the same warnings by reasonable people back then, as well?!?? Asking the leaders to consider the full consequences of arming violent people in foreign lands? I'll hate to have to say I told you so once AQ has a new safe haven and chemical weapons in Syria.. Actually I'll hate to see what the full consequences of our countries helping the "rebels" is going to cause.
To me at least, I am pleased to see our government learning lessons from past mistakes. By staying out of this mess, we avoid unseen complications and creating new enemies. I truly wish we had learned this decades ago......but better late than never I suppose.
The US was warned repeatedly by Afghan Abdul Haq. He told them exactly what these people were like and asked them to stop funding them but they paid no attention to him. It was later realised that the CIA had understood all the time who these people were and preferred them to Afghan democrats because a) they were fanatics and would fight nastier and b) again because they were fanatics they would carry on fighting when the Afghans would accept a deal with the Russians who would then go home. There are of course the real Syrian opposition just like there was the genuine Afghan opposition. It would not be right to confuse them with the fanatical largely foreign Salafi extremists.
