The Pentagon And The U.S. State Department Are At Odds Over Supporting Syria's Rebel Movement

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during his news conference at Syrian Donors Conference at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait City January 15, 2014 file photo. Credit: Reuters/Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Pool

John Kerry, U.S. Military Clash On Approach To Syria's Rebels -- Wall Street Journal

Pentagon Opposes Direct Military Intervention Against Assad

WASHINGTON—Frustrated by the stalemate in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry has been pushing for the U.S. military to be more aggressive in supporting the country's rebel forces. Opposition has come from the institution that would spearhead any such effort: the Pentagon.

Mr. Kerry and United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power have advocated options that range from an American military intervention to weaken the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to using U.S. special operations forces to train and equip a large number of rebel fighters. Such moves would go far beyond the U.S.'s current engagement.

In recent White House meetings, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel have pushed back against military intervention, said senior officials.

They say the risk is high of being dragged into an open-ended foreign entanglement.

Read more ....

Update #1: Kerry clashes with Pentagon over Syria -- The Hill
Update #2: Kerry Talking to 'Surge' Architects Petraeus, Keane About Syria -- Newsmax

My Comment: Considering the importance of the decision .... this should be a Presidential decision .... not one left to the State Department or Pentagon to decide on what needs to be done.

Update #3: If the Pentagon and the U.S. State Department are at odds on what to do .... I have to now wonder .... who is supplying these weapons to the Syrian rebels.