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[Pomerlaw]

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-b3aa-Russia-blasts-extra-US-arms-for-rebels#.WEwehvnhBQI

MOSCOW lambasted the outgoing US administration yesterday for its last-gasp bid to delay victory in Syria by flooding the country with arms.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on supplying weapons to “foreign forces, irregular forces, groups or individuals” that the US claims are fighting terrorists in Syria.
The congressional defence funding Bill containing the waiving the restrictions specifies supplying man-portable air defence systems (Manpads) — shoulder launched surface-to air-missiles — to militant groups approved by US spy agencies.
While that would include the Kurdish YPG militia, which enjoys Pentagon backing, it could also mean CIA-sponsored groups that have committed atrocities with US-supplied arms or simply handed them over to al-Qaida and Isis.
Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov said yesterday that the US action was unlikely to alter the course of the war, with a decisive Syrian victory in Aleppo at hand.
“I don’t think this will significantly change the situation in eastern Aleppo, because the rebels are encircled” and cut off from foreign arms shipments, he said.
But he added: “This will affect our talks, as this is yet another peculiarity of US foreign policy concerning Aleppo.”
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned: “Certainly, the worst result of this decision would be those weapons, including Manpads, ending up in the hands of terrorists, which of course poses a serious threat not only for the region but for the entire world.”
Asked whether the US decision could pose a danger to Russian warplanes operating in Syria, Mr Peskov answered: “Definitely.”

This isn't good news at all.

 

[Zubz]

What the fuck? When has this ever worked in the past?! Because outside of needing another reason to convince Americans we're at risk, I can't rack my mind around why we would want to risk to create another terrorist organization.

 

[NeoRausch]

Worked out wonderful last time.
:/

 

[Xando]

Too little too late. Obamas Syria policy has been a joke.

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

Sad to say this, but the Russians are absolutely right in this case. The last thing you want is Al Qaida and ISIS getting shiploads of Stingers and ATGMs in their hands. If boots on the ground intervention is needed in the future that would be a fricking nightmare (not to start talking about the consequences for the Iraqi Army).

Arm the Kurds and the YPG until they are bleeding guns out of their noses, but keep them the fuck away from everyone else in Syria at this point.

 

[CrocMother]

Is it safe to say yet that we're in a Cold War-lite?

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

Is it safe to say yet that we're in a Cold War-lite?

*Cough cough* Eastern Ukraine *cough cough*.
We've had Cold War 2.0 for at least 2 years now. War by proxy had its sad reboot. And that's not even talking about the Cyber War and funding of extremist parties going on (which also played a huge role in getting Trump elected).

 

[Kolx]

Someone is pissed at Russia I see.

 

[Gorillaz]

Been tired of this strategy. Shit hasn't even remotely worked


Can't imagine how terrible the talking oranges foreign team will be

 

[Xando]

Is it safe to say yet that we're in a Cold War-lite?

We have been for the last 5 years. West is only starting to realize it now

I thought he wanted to go ham in Syria back in the day but war weariness and other resistance tempered his action.

Should have armed the rebels back when they actually were rebels and not islamic terrorists aswell as impose a no fly zone when Assad crossed his famous red line and gassed his people

 

[Herr Schwarz]

Too little too late. Obamas Syria policy has been a joke.

I thought he wanted to go ham in Syria back in the day but war weariness and other resistance tempered his action.

 

[Oersted]

That source and article tho

 

[Kolx]

What the fuck? When has this ever worked in the past?! Because outside of needing another reason to convince Americans we're at risk, I can't rack my mind around why we would want to risk to create another terrorist organization.

This is about sinking Russia more into the swamp they're in. The more weapons the us support the rebels with the harder it's for Russia to get out.

 

[Ric Flair]

What does anyone gain from this, seriously. Fuck off Obama, you didn't have to be Bush 2.0 but chose to be

 

[rrvv]

What the fuck? When has this ever worked in the past?! Because outside of needing another reason to convince Americans we're at risk, I can't rack my mind around why we would want to risk to create another terrorist organization.

it work stopping Soviet advance in Afghanistan. Then you know what happens next

 

[CrocMother]

*Cough cough* Eastern Ukraine *cough cough*.
We've had Cold War 2.0 for at least 2 years now. War by proxy had its sad reboot. And that's not even talking about the Cyber War and funding of extremist parties going on (which also played a huge role in getting Trump elected).

I'm not ready to say it's on the level of the first Cold War. That's why I called it "lite".

A strong China changes the dynamic completely.

 

[RustyNails]

SDF has captured villages around Raqqa and they're preparing for a 2nd assault on the city (ISIS capital). 200 US security personnel are also assisting with the offensive. The money is probably going towards this operation.

 

[CornBurrito]

I wonder if other countries are infiltrating the US and trying to stir up violent revolution of some sort. Or maybe that's not possible in the US given the size of its army/police forces and its willingness to use deadly force on its own citizens.

 

[faisal233]

SDF has captured villages around Raqqa and they're preparing for a 2nd assault on the city (ISIS capital). 200 US security personnel are also assisting with the offensive. The money is probably going towards this operation.

Nah, lets believe the Russian spin.

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

God damn it, Obama.

We desperately need a president who will take America's dick out of the Middle East.

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

.

Depends on if this goes to us

 

[RustyNails]

Nah, lets believe the Russian spin.

Even Russian news is saying it's going toward Raqqa Offensive

Obama Lifts Restrictions on Military Aid to Bolster Raqqa Offensive - Official

“This waiver requested by the Secretary of Defense and signed by the President today enables the provision of equipment to partner forces preparing for the Raqqa campaign as we grow and strengthen numerous relationships with Counter-ISIL [Islamic State] forces,” the official said on Thursday.

 

[Torokil]

Only delaying the inevitable. GG Obama

 

[Pamplemousse]

Too little too late. Obamas Syria policy has been a joke.

His policy is flat out terrible. The rebels are overwhelmingly radical, and the arms we give them end up in ISIS hands.

 

[Jorok Goldblade]

What the fuck? When has this ever worked in the past?! Because outside of needing another reason to convince Americans we're at risk, I can't rack my mind around why we would want to risk to create another terrorist organization.

It's worked exactly once. And those rebels went on to become the Taliban.

So bad call.

 

[Autumn Wind]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IZfpGG2cBE

 

[vikki]

I think we should give them a chance.

Spoiler

this is obviously sarcasm

 

[Bony Manifesto]

What does anyone gain from this, seriously. Fuck off Obama, you didn't have to be Bush 2.0 but chose to be

The arms industry (and those invested in it) is the only real winner.

 

[Pomerlaw]

Even Russian news is saying it's going toward Raqqa Offensive

Obama Lifts Restrictions on Military Aid to Bolster Raqqa Offensive - Official

Sputnik is full Russian propaganda, I'm a bit surprised to see this article there.

 

[SiteSeer]

great. terrorists are gonna use those manpads to shoot down a commercial passenger flight now, right?

 

[Brawly Likes to Brawl]

how did that farcry 3 quote go again

 

[Zubz]

it work stopping Soviet advance in Afghanistan. Then you know what happens next

It's worked exactly once. And those rebels went on to become the Taliban.

So bad call.

Yeah; even if they met the US' goals for them in the short-term, I was considering the Taliban as a net failure.

 

[JC Lately]

When has this ever worked out well? For the US, or the country whose Rebels we armed? There has to be one instance when this resulted in a net positive, right? And not come back to bite us in the ass in a generation or two?

 

[dripdripsplash]

This had to be done years ago to have an effect.

 

[DragonSworne]

Get bent Russia and anyone who supports Assad.

 

[PdotMichael]

This had to be done years ago to have an effect.

They did and it had quite the negative effects.

 

[LUFTRAUSER]

Well if you trust the Russians, anyway.

 

[sssstententen]

Can we at least update the OP with the information about how this is most likely related to the upcoming Raqqa offensive instead of just taking Russian Propaganda at face value?

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Those weapons will end up with Al Qaeda and ISIS just like the others .

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

It's worked exactly once. And those rebels went on to become the Taliban.

So bad call.

It worked extremely well for the Iraqi Kurds fighting ISIS. Germany alone gave them enough ATGMs that the M1 Abrams and other tanks Daesh had captured mostly became a non issue (which before was one of the main reasons for them pushing the Kurds back and threatening to slaughter tens of thousands of refugees).

But this was the Kurds which have a very clear political position and where the possible consequences are limited (they are already an autonomous region, worst thing they become independent which means less hands in the hands of the corrupt and inept Iraqi government in exchange for a stable military ally for western powers, seems like a big plus in the long run).

The chance to arm non Kurd rebels in Syria was 4 years ago when you still had one big rebel group made up of former parts of the army. Nothing happened then. Now Obama is literally opening the flood gates Lord of War style. This will backfire hard, those missiles will end up in the hands of ISIS, Al Nusra and Al Quaida, and even if no western troops are affected, it will be a serious problem for the already hard pressed Iraqi army. And if they end up in Afghanistan...

Even if the Raqqa offensive is successful I see no way how Assad is not winning in the end, even if things go really badly for him Putin will just move ten or twenty thousand Russian soldiers with Jets, Choppers and tanks over there and turn the tide, something he already did a year ago.

 

[Sulik2]

Syria might be Obama's single biggest mistake. He has mishandled this from day one and this is even dumber.