Only 60 Syrian Rebels Fit for Training: Should America help only "those that help themselves"?

2015-07-08T07:10:19-04:00

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ash-carter-syrian-rebel-training-119812.html

Carter's unwelcome news: Only 60 Syrian rebels fit for training

Senators ask why it’s so difficult to find rebels to take on Bashar Assad.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 8 at 2015 7:22 AM

2015-07-08T07:22:18-04:00

I agree that we should help those countries that are determined to defend themselves.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jul 8 at 2015 7:30 AM

2015-07-08T07:30:37-04:00

This reminds me of 2004 when we were told that all Iraqi police officers were going to shoot the 720 round FBI pistol qualification course. If they failed they would shoot it until they passed. We got our first 100 students in and a 40ft container full of 9mm ammo. On day 3 I put a request in for another container of ammo. The CPT was ecstatic that we had already went though the first container. He asked excitedly, "How many qualified?" My response, "Four."

They just could not grasp the concept that these people are one step above cavemen. The same people who brought you algebra and law, have been held down so long by religion and dictators that it is going to take generations of education just to get them to be as smart as a rock.

By the time it was over, our 720 round qualification was reduced to 10 round familiarization fire so the State Department could tell the world we were training 5000 new Iraqi police officers a month.

Response by Bryce Englin made Jul 8 at 2015 7:35 AM

2015-07-08T07:35:46-04:00

$500 million bucks for 60 Syrians willing to fight, wow what a great ROi, oh wait that money will go to all the contractors we have to pay to train and in reality a majority of them are clueless as well.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 8 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-07-08T10:41:22-04:00

I feel the United States should only help those who ask, and even then, we should assess the situation.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 12 at 2015 2:26 PM

2015-09-12T14:26:50-04:00

I think that the statement is kind of incorrect because are there only 60 rebels fit to be trained or are there only 60 rebels willing to fight?
Nothing is going to get solved in any part of the Middle East as long as they continue to squabble over regional and cultural differences and fight rather than work out a solution to the problems.
I seriously think that 1000 years from now they will still be killing each other over their differences of being Sunni, Shite or something else and that some country is always going to be helping one rebel group or another.