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kentuck

(110,950 posts)
Tue Jun 17, 2014, 09:34 PM Jun 2014

What Sen. John McCain was doing in Syria

http://theweek.com/article/index/244727/what-sen-john-mccain-was-doing-in-syria

Are these the same rebels now fighting outside of Baghdad??

?205

<snip>

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) spent a few hours of his Memorial Day in Syria, meeting with rebel leaders who are trying to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. McCain, the Senate's most prominent supporter of greater U.S. intervention in Syria's civil war, snuck into the country from Turkey. He's the highest-ranking American to visit Syria during the two-year-old conflict.

McCain's visit to Syria was kept secret until he was back in Turkey, at which point The Daily Beast's Josh Rogin published an article on the covert trip. McCain's office then confirmed it. How under-the-radar was the excursion?
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What Sen. John McCain was doing in Syria (Original Post) kentuck Jun 2014 OP
No, these are not the same rebels nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #1
How do we know that? kentuck Jun 2014 #2
Because McCain, from what I undestand, was talking to the more moderate groups nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #6
I can't tell from the photo. But is he holding his gun? If so, why isn't this Guy Whitey Corngood Jun 2014 #3
He would have to crash a plane into them Lochloosa Jun 2014 #4
. Guy Whitey Corngood Jun 2014 #5
'CAIN-GHAZI-GATE! rocktivity Jun 2014 #7
 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
1. No, these are not the same rebels
Tue Jun 17, 2014, 09:37 PM
Jun 2014

these guys are fighting ISIS. It gets complicated. But they have more than just two sides

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
6. Because McCain, from what I undestand, was talking to the more moderate groups
Tue Jun 17, 2014, 09:47 PM
Jun 2014

here is a list of them via the Christian Science Monitor and it might be dated.

And that list is far from complete.

And from your link

Since early April, the U.S. has been providing some Syrian rebels with body armor and night-vision glasses, along with food and medical aid. The Daily Beast's Rogin says the rebels asked McCain for weapons and other military aid. Idris tells Rogin:

We need American help to have change on the ground; we are now in a very critical situation.... What we want from the U.S. government is to take the decision to support the Syrian revolution with weapons and ammunition, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft weapons.... Of course we want a no-fly zone and we ask for strategic strikes against Hezbollah both inside Lebanon and inside Syria. [Daily Beast]


Idris is a moderate defector from the military. And he has zero real support inside.

ISIS is supported by the Saudis actually, and Malaki is supported by Iran (Strange bedfellows for the US).

But for shortness, think of it this way, you have the shia (minority) Christians of a few flavors that is (minority) fighting moderate Sunni, and radical sunni and add some lovely kurd to the mix. This contact was arranged by the US government, they were not that stupid to arm ISIS. Now if you want to be cynical, not directly, given that the Saudis are... well it gets complicated.

rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
7. 'CAIN-GHAZI-GATE!
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 05:12 PM
Jun 2014

Haul him in before a GOP committee and ask him what he was doing behind Obama's back!


rocktivity

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