Thursday, February 7, 2013

Pentagon Backed A CIA Plan To Arm Syria's Rebels

SENATE HEARING
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify on the Defense Department’s response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2013. Testimony included the findings of the department's internal review following the attack. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Military Chief Says Pentagon Backed Arming Syrian Rebels -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — General Martin E. Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that the Pentagon supported a plan to arm Syrian rebels that was developed last year by David H. Petraeus, the C.I.A. director at the time, and backed by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was then serving as Secretary of State.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, General Dempsey was asked by Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, if he had supported the recommendation that weapons be provided to the Syrian resistance.

“We did,” General Dempsey said,

“You did support that?” Senator McCain asked again.

“We did,” General Dempsey repeated.

Read more ....

More News On The Pentagon Supporting A CIA Plan To Arm Syria's Rebels

Pentagon wanted to arm the Syrian opposition -- The Cable/Foreign Policy
Panetta backs Syria rebels arms plan -- BBC
Panetta: DOD backed arming Syrian opposition groups -- Washington Post/AP
Top U.S. Officer Says He Backed Arming Some Syria Rebels -- Wall Street Journal
Panetta Exposes Rift With Obama Over Arming Syrian Rebels -- Bloomberg Businessweek

My Comment: Since the plan to arm the rebels came from the CIA, I would have to assume that the CIA was in favor of such a plan. So .... both the Pentagon and the CIA wanted to arm the rebels .... but President Obama said no. I would love to know his reasons why?

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