Arab and western governments contemplate backing the Free Syrian Army as hopes fade of a negotiated peace
Ian Black and Julian Borger
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 February 2012 02
"....Any outside involvement in Syria would also have "an Arab face", said a former British intelligence officer.
The most significant outside player would probably be neighbouring Turkey, which already hosts the opposition Syrian National Council and allows a safe haven for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), whose lightly armed fighters are in action against regime forces.....
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are believed to have been financing the FSA, but Baer said the FSA was having problems smuggling heavy and sophisticated arms into the country....
One analyst, Marc Lynch, commented: "I expect calls to mount for the provision of weapons to the Free Syrian Army, or for that to simply happen without fanfare … But nobody should be fooled into thinking that this is a panacea: arming the weaker side in a fully fledged, internationalised civil war is much more likely to produce a painful stalemate than a quick, decisive outcome."
Jordan, whose intelligence service is considered the best in the Arab world, is watching developments in Syria through the eyes of tribes that straddle the border. It could also train and supply the anti-Assad rebels, but only if that mission were "subcontracted" to it by the far wealthier Gulf states........"
Ian Black and Julian Borger
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 February 2012 02
"....Any outside involvement in Syria would also have "an Arab face", said a former British intelligence officer.
The most significant outside player would probably be neighbouring Turkey, which already hosts the opposition Syrian National Council and allows a safe haven for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), whose lightly armed fighters are in action against regime forces.....
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are believed to have been financing the FSA, but Baer said the FSA was having problems smuggling heavy and sophisticated arms into the country....
One analyst, Marc Lynch, commented: "I expect calls to mount for the provision of weapons to the Free Syrian Army, or for that to simply happen without fanfare … But nobody should be fooled into thinking that this is a panacea: arming the weaker side in a fully fledged, internationalised civil war is much more likely to produce a painful stalemate than a quick, decisive outcome."
Jordan, whose intelligence service is considered the best in the Arab world, is watching developments in Syria through the eyes of tribes that straddle the border. It could also train and supply the anti-Assad rebels, but only if that mission were "subcontracted" to it by the far wealthier Gulf states........"
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