“Obama Close to Authorizing Military Training of Syrian Rebels”

Remind me: Where have we seen
this sort of tip-toe routine before? Was
it here?

Reader Ken
Constantino emailed this tip our Hit & Run box with
the succinct phrase “Shit” in the text field.

Via the Wall Street Journal comes this news:

In a commencement address at the United States Military
Academy at West Point on Wednesday, Mr. Obama will signal backing
for the new training effort by saying he intends to increase
support to the armed Syrian opposition, including by providing them
with training. Mr. Obama isn’t expected to provide details about
how, or where, that training would be accomplished.

“The president will make clear his intention to expand our
support to the moderate Syrian operation and increase our support
to Syria’s neighbors, who are dealing with the terrorist threats
emanating from the situation Assad has created in Syria,” a senior
administration official said….

Under a new arrangement still under discussion within the
administration, the U.S. military would overtly conduct most of the
training, and the CIA would take the lead in providing arms
covertly.

Defense officials say legislation would be required to authorize
the military to conduct a training program for the opposition. Last
week, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved such a measure,
authorizing the Pentagon to provide equipment, training and
supplies to aid vetted members of the Syrian opposition.

Read the whole thing.