Syria Support

Two retired U.S. ambassadors, a former Army vice chief of staff and a former CIA chief have sent a letter to the House Armed Services Committee in support of committee Chairman Buck McKeon's (R-CA) proposed amendment that would help arm Syrian rebels.

Retired Ambs. Ryan Crocker and Robert Ford as well as Gens. Jack Keane and David Petraeus write in their letter:

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is simultaneously fighting both the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad and the barbaric Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Providing greater assistance to FSA is the United States’ best opportunity to develop a moderate force that is capable of defeating ISIS and bringing about a post-Assad Syria that is free of terror.

As you may know, FSA forces have recently achieved some successes on the ground against ISIS forces in northern Syria, but their effectiveness is limited by their lack of sufficient assistance and training.

Building up the moderate opposition in Syria will be a key element of any successful strategy against ISIS. To be sure, after three years of war, it will take a long time to build the moderate opposition. But there is no viable alternative. The United States must set to this task immediately.

InsideDefense.com reported yesterday that the House Armed Services Committee was unwilling to authorize the additional $500 million requested by the White House to train and equip Syrian rebels, though the committee has introduced a measure that would allow the Pentagon to pay for the effort by reprogramming existing funds:

"This amendment does not authorize additional funds, but does allow the Department of Defense to submit reprogramming requests to Congress, should the President request DOD funds to execute this authority," according to a summary of the amendment released Monday evening. "This amendment, as requested by the President, would authorize the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to train and equip appropriately vetted elements of the Syrian opposition and other appropriately vetted Syrian groups or individuals."

The amendment would also allow the acceptance of "foreign contributions." Saudi Arabia has agreed to host the training program.

Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon's top spokesman, has told reporters that getting the $500 million from Congress to train the Syrian rebels was one of DOD's key priorities.