Obama authorises CIA help for Syria's rebels: report

3 Aug 2012, 9:00 am   -   Source: World Crunch
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(AAP)

(AAP)

Barack Obama has authorized covert US support of Syrian rebels in order to oust President Bashar al-Assad, reports Reuters.

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REUTERS, AL JAZEERA (Qatar), NEW YORK TIMES (USA)

Worldcrunch

Barack Obama has authorized covert US support of Syrian rebels in order to oust President Bashar al-Assad, reports Reuters.

The secret order, which was allegedly signed earlier this year allows the CIA to offer support and assistance to rebel fighters engaged in conflict, with similar reports emerging that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are providing intelligence assistance to rebel forces.

The #Obama dilemma. How to convince the #Syria n public we have gone to war on their side, while not convincing the US public. #tricky

— Nigel Cameron (@nigelcameron) August 2, 2012

However, the news of President Obama's secret order could prove difficult as the circulation of two videos Wednesday prompted debate on the rebel forces' tactics. The violent and disturbing images posted on YouTube show Free Syrian Army rebels publicly executing supporters of Bashar al-Assad, one of whom has been identified as Sunni politician Zeino al-Barri, Al Jazeera reports.

Human rights activists are denouncing the act as a war crime. A researcher for Human Rights Watch, Nadim Houry, told the New York Times: “Intentionally killing anyone, even a shabiha, once he is outside of combat is a war crime, regardless of how horrible the person may have been [...] As the opposition gains more territory, it is important to hold them to the same standard that we would apply to all sides."

Barri execution: What we have in common is exactly what we didn't want to have in common. An opportunity for justice was missed. #Syria

— Amal Hanano (@AmalHanano) July 31, 2012

The World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have also expressed concerns that the conflict has resulted in the Syrian agriculture sector losing $1.8 billion this year.

The organisations said on Thursday that up to three million Syrians will need food, crop and livestock aid over the next year, as wheat and barley crops have been badly affected.

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Your Comments

No matter how bad Syria is, what right does the USA have to start another War?

Mona - from Australia, 10 months ago

If Americans are not fighting wars they start themselves, they create them, by funding them & supplying weapons. Self righteous, the USA has determined that Assad has to go & they happily supply every malcontent possible. There would be no revolt if it wasn't for covert USA action. The Western media glorying in the name "rebels" when some would think they are "insurgents". The USA will fund malcontents to topple any govt that doesn't glorify their values. ( & it makes for stable oil supplies.)

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