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America's Syria dilemma: Enemy of the enemy now a friend?
http://www.dw.com/en/americas-syria-dilemma-enemy-of-the-enemy-now-a-friend/a-18574485US efforts to recruit moderate rebels are not going well. With "Islamic State" now enemy number one, the White House has tacitly forged an alliance with its old adversary: Bashar al-Assad. Spencer Kimball reports.
America's Syria dilemma: Enemy of the enemy now a friend?
Spencer Kimball
11.07.2015
America's rebel army in Syria has instructions not to attack the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
The main enemy is the "Islamic State" (IS). Not that the pro-Western militia poses a threat to either. So far, Washington has only trained 60 fighters.
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter acknowledged as much this week, telling Congress that the number falls far below the Pentagon's original expectations. The secretary's admission triggered consternation among President Barack Obama's opponents and damage control by his supporters.
"Our means and our current level of effort are not aligned with our ends," Senator John McCain said during a committee hearing. "That suggests we are not winning, and when you are not winning in war, you are losing."
