Reuters - President Barack Obama, under pressure from some lawmakers for greater U.S. backing for Syria's opposition, on Thursday asked the U.S. Congress approve $500 million to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Assad.
A White House statement said rebels would be vetted before being given assistance, in an effort to assuage concerns that some equipment provided to the Syrian opposition might ultimately fall into the hands of U.S. enemies.
Obama has been under strong pressure from some lawmakers, such as Republican Senator John McCain Of Arizona, to increase assistance to the rebels in Syria's three-year-old civil war. Some lawmakers have accused Obama of being passive and indecisive for months, allowing Assad to repulse a threat to his government.
Obama's request for $500 million followed through on a promise he made in late May in a foreign policy speech that he would 'ramp up support for those in the Syrian opposition who offer the best alternative to terrorists and brutal dictators.'
The White House said the money would help defend the Syrian people, stabilize areas under opposition control, facilitate the provision of essential services, counter terrorist threats, and promote conditions for a negotiated settlement.
'This funding request would build on the administration's longstanding efforts to empower the moderate Syrian opposition, both civilian and armed, and will enable the Department of Defense to increase our support to vetted elements of the armed opposition,' the White House said.
Entities 0 Name: White House Count: 3 1 Name: Obama Count: 3 2 Name: U.S. Count: 2 3 Name: Syria Count: 2 4 Name: U.S. Congress Count: 1 5 Name: Arizona Count: 1 6 Name: Department of Defense Count: 1 7 Name: Bashar Assad Count: 1 8 Name: John McCain Count: 1 9 Name: Reuters Count: 1 10 Name: Barack Obama Count: 1 11 Name: Assad Count: 1 12 Name: Republican Count: 1 13 Name: Syrian Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1pmdjdu Title: Barack Obama Swept Aside The Entire Free Syrian Army In One Sentence Description: "When you get farmers, dentists and folks who have never fought before going up against a ruthless opposition in Assad, the notion that they were in a position to suddenly overturn not only Assad but also ruthless, highly trained jihadists if we just sent a few arms is a fantasy."
