The US and other NATO countries could soon launch a ground assault on Syria. The final decision will be made soon, following this week’s Tunis conference where allied countries will meet to discuss possible scenarios of military intervention.
Sources in Washington tell the Israeli news agency Debka that the Pentagon is currently drafting the approach they want America to take in the Syria ordeal, and once it is ready for the president, Obama could approve military action. Debka adds, however, that the decision will also depend on what US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton takes away from this week’s Tunis conference.
Representatives from 80 countries across the globe are expected to descend on Tunis on Friday under the name “Friends of Syria.” Should Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the UAR support a western intervention in Syria, Clinton could offer an endorsement to the Pentagon, who will in turn finish their draft for war plans and send them to the White House for approval.
According to Debka’s sources, UK, France, Italy and Turkey are also preparing to send their troops into Syria.
Earlier this month, President Obama seemed to side more with a solution that would save the US from directly dragging itself to war. “I think it is very important for us to try to resolve this without recourse to outside military intervention. I think that’s possible,” the president told NBC News.
Elsewhere in Washington, some representatives have already openly endorsed aiding the Syrian rebels. Speaking from Kabul, Afghanistan last week, Senator John McCain insisted that the US could offer support to the opponents of Assad without necessarily sending troops of their own over.
“People that are being massacred deserve to have the ability to defend themselves,” said McCain, who added, “I believe there are ways to get weapons to the opposition without direct United States involvement.”
As RT reported earlier, FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds said she believes that American forces in conjunction with NATO have already been training Syrian rebels since May 2011 in the Turkish city of Hakkari. Upwards of 10,000 Libyans are also believed to being trained to assist in nearby Jordan.
Senator Lindsey Graham provided more information recently on America’s interest in toppling the Syrian government. He also this month advocated for the aiding of rebels, saying that a US intervention to remove al-Assad would assist in hurting Iranian interests in the region.
“If the Syrian regime is replaced with another form of government that doesn’t tie its future to the Iranians, the world is a better place,” said Graham.
In America on Wednesday, the four remaining GOP frontrunners for the presidency also discussed the Syrian dilemma, largely avoiding any direct response while instead relating the incident to Iran, which they by-and-large perceive as a worse threat to America. From Arizona Wednesday, Texas congressman and Republican Party candidate Ron Paul opposed Syria intervention, citing that America could not financially afford to involve itself in this time.
On the topic of Iran, Paul opined, “If they are so determined to go to war, the only thing I plead with you for, if this is the case, is do it properly. Ask the people and ask the Congress for a declaration of war. This is war and people are going to die. And you have got to get a declaration of war.”
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