Obama To Send Lethal Arms to Syrian Rebels

Local Editor

The Washington Post US daily reported Wednesday that President Obama is preparing to send lethal weaponry to the Syrian opposition and has taken steps to assert more aggressive US leadership among allies and partners seeking the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

According to senior administration officials, the US is moving toward the shipment of arms but emphasized that they are still pursuing political negotiation.

"Obama, who spoke by telephone with Putin on Monday and is sending Secretary of State John F. Kerry to Moscow in the coming days, is likely to make a final decision on the supply of arms to the opposition within weeks, before a scheduled meeting with Putin in June," the officials said.

The senior officials described him as ready to move on what one described as the "left-hand side" of a broad spectrum that ranged from "arming the opposition to boots on the ground."
"We're clearly on an upward trajectory," the senior official said. "We've moved over to assistance that has a direct military purpose."
The officials did not specify what US equipment is under consideration, although the rebels have specifically requested ­antitank weapons and surface-to-air missiles.

But the senior official, one of several who discussed internal administration deliberations on the condition of anonymity, said Obama has "not closed the door to other military actions," in response to calls from the Syrian opposition and some members of Congress for protection against the Assad government's ballistic missiles and airstrikes.

Asked about the possibility of establishing a no-fly zone over rebel-held areas in Syria, the official said the administration was "reviewing all options."
Partner nations, including Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Britain, have urged the United States - and Obama directly in recent meetings - to take a more active role in helping the Syrian rebels.

"The administration is not prepared to send missiles, but it believes it can gain more control over others' supplies if it puts what an official called more skin in the game by sending lethal equipment," it added.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org