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Washington Arming Syrian Insurgents

Stephen Lendman | 19.06.2012 10:50 | Cambridge

It's no surprise. It's an open secret. It's been ongoing since early last year directly and/or indirectly. Rhetorically supporting peace while waging war exposes Washington's transparent hypocrisy. On June 15, the UK Daily Telegraph headlined "US holds high-level talks with Syrian rebels seeking weapons in Washington," saying: In the past week, a Free Syrian Army (FSA) representative met with outgoing Syrian ambassador Robert Ford and special Syrian coordinator Frederick Hof at the State Department.

Meetings with senior National Security Council officials were also held.

FSA members want heavy weapons. They include anti-tank missiles and heavy machine guns.

"(T)he Daily Telegraph has learned that advanced contingency plans are already in place to supply heavy weapons to the rebels, including sophisticated anti-tank weapons and surface to-air-missiles."

Plans may crystallize at the upcoming June 30 Geneva Friends of Syria meeting. The June 18-19 Los Cabos, Mexico summit will focus more on Eurozone economic crisis conditions.

Syria discussions won't change Russian and Chinese opposition to military intervention.

Nonetheless, Obama and Putin will hold bilateral talks. It'll be their first meeting since Putin's reelection. Obama will also meet privately with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Expect no Syrian breakthroughs.

Unnamed "(s)enior Middle East diplomatic sources" said large insurgent weapons supplies are already stockpiled. "(I)nevitable" intervention is coming. At issue is toppling Assad. One unnamed source said:

It "will happen. It is not a question of 'if,' but 'when.' "

"Middle Eastern diplomatic sources said that the Obama administration was fully aware of the preparations being made to arm Syrian opposition groups."

"The US has also agreed to be part of a group of countries that coordinates assistance to the rebels, the sources said, but was still deliberating over the time frame for escalation."

On June 16, DEBKAfile said Washington "is very near a decision on the types of weapons to be shipped to the Syrian rebels and when."

Most supplied are bought and paid for. Saudi Arabia and Qatar funds were used. "The White House is also close to deciding on the format of its military operation in Syria."

"Some sources" call it "Libya lite." It includes a no-fly zone. It also involves "direct air and other strikes...."

If implemented, expect full-scale war. Washington always resolves issues this way when other interventionist measures fail. .......... M O R E:  http://www.indymedia.org/de/2012/06/957454.shtml

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at  lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"

 http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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M O R E:  http://www.indymedia.org/de/2012/06/957454.shtml

Stephen Lendman

Comments

Display the following 19 comments

  1. When will you understand that our fight against the Assad regime is a ju — Syrian
  2. @ Syrian — Town End Boy
  3. A just cause ? — Knowing
  4. Errr what ? — Honda
  5. China says Syrian opposition against interference — Drama Lama
  6. @Honda — Question
  7. @ Question — Honda
  8. Aiding and abetting terrorism is an international crime — newspipe
  9. This may help — x
  10. had a feeling — thot so
  11. remove this shit — anon
  12. Boiling water in a sealed pot. — On/C
  13. @newspipe — sniffer
  14. Decline — O dear
  15. Reminder — Anonymous
  16. SFA = Zionist shrills. — On/C
  17. I am amazed at what people think of my country — Manchester based Syrian
  18. two types of supporters — i step back from the issue
  19. Israel, Syria and Iran. — Metric