The Story of US Arming Syrian Opposition
Mohammad Younes
In early June, al-Jazeera aired a TV message by a military commander of the Syrian armed factions, as the opposition was trying to take over Quneitra passageway separating the liberated part of Golan from the occupied one, and as Austria had just announced its intention to pull its peacekeeping troops out from Golan.
This TV message, delivered by so-called Mohammad Khatib, the commander of al-Furqan Brigade, would have been insignificant had it not been for the dangerous note that Khatib uttered and that totally confused the show host, when he said the opposition's battle was not against "Israel" since "the opposition had nothing against Israel."
At the time, many thought that al-Jazeera made a tactical mistake that would harm both the pan-Arab channel and the opposition. Nonetheless, al-Ahed news site later uncovered that it was not just a simple error, but rather a planned premeditated scenario.
A Syrian opposition source relates that it all started when the US showed readiness to gear up the opposition with quality weapons; it yet remained tentative and undecided. This is when the opposition kind of felt the pinch and ventured into the whys of such hesitation, of course with the help of Qatar.
Contacts and visits between Doha and Washington then took off. Meetings focused on how to brace for the straining-at-the-leash President Assad. Most notably are the maneuvers conducted in Jordan under the command of the US Armed Forces. More than a meeting took place, most recent of which was that held in Jordan between US, Qatari and Jordanian officers, with the participation of representatives of the Syrian opposition factions, namely the Muslim Brotherhood. The US officer made it clear that Washington and Tel Aviv were equally concerned over the possibility that the American weapons to be provided to the opposition would be used against "Israel," as well as over the possibility that terrorist groups within the opposition would seize the weaponry. Washington said it had no interest in such an option. Discussions then featured high on this last item, until a formula was eventually reached: let Washington pick the faction it wishes to arm and train! Others will just have to give in to its choice.
The US officer showed appetite for this proposal. Who else than Free Syrian Army chief of staff Salim Idris may assume this mission? The problem still lied within the fact that FSA was not one unified army obeying a sole hierarchy. It is rather a congregation of armies, where the Muslim Brotherhood has a major influence. Who would then guarantee to the Americans that weapons would not be used against "Israel?"
Albeit conferees skimmed through mulling this question, it was clear enough that they already agreed on not aiming the weapons at "Israel," since coordination was by this time underway between gunmen and "Israel," noting that "Israelis" have set up field hospitals to treat the injured and provided transportation and smuggling routes in favor of the armed groups. Nevertheless, the US was determined to make "Israel" hear an outspoken pledge after it has Okayed to gear up the opposition. The preset condition complicated matters. But the Qatari envoy managed to come up with a brilliant idea that would reassure the US.
The source continues narrating the story. He quotes the Qatari as saying, "I have the solution." A solemn silence prevailed in the room. All turned their eyes and ears to him. He said," The solution is as simple as follows: 1- Determined factions of the Syrian opposition carry on battles to take over the line between Golan and Israel and to link these regions to the border with Jordan, in a bid to secure a supply route.
2- Qatar undertakes to make al-Jazeera set and broadcast an interview with one of these factions' commander live on air that gives the sought public guarantee and that underscores the battle is not against Israel."
Conferees sighed in relief and approved the Qatari proposal.
Source: Al-Ahed News, translated and edited by website team
