While the CIA and the Pentagon are arguing, Russia is attacking the US-supported rebels (The Daily Beast, USA)

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In Aleppo, the rebels, supported by the United States, found themselves in a difficult situation. The reaction of Washington was the tightening of the struggle - between the military and intelligence agencies of the United States

The US-backed opposition forces in the largest city of Syria are currently opposing a fierce attack led by the Russian military, and this raises serious concerns, since the rebels can be completely eliminated within a few weeks.

How did the Pentagon and the US intelligence agency react to this?

Arranged a fight among themselves.

Two officials of the US Department of Defense told the Daily Beast publication that their department did not want to support the rebels in Aleppo, because the latter, according to some reports, are closely linked to the Al-Qaida Syrian offshoot - the Jabhat al-Nusra group. The CIA, which supports these rebel groups, rejects this information, stating that the situational alliances created in the face of the Russian offensive are alliances based on military necessity, not on common ideologies.

“It is rather strange that officials of the Ministry of Defense echo Russian propaganda,” said one American official, who supports the intelligence agency’s point of view, in response to the Pentagon’s claims that the Syrian opposition and al-Nusra are one and the same.

But even if the rebel groups were in no way connected with the "Al-Nusra Front," there would still be a kind of strategic conflict with the US military tasks. According to Pentagon officials, the rebels in Aleppo are fighting against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and the main task of the American military campaign in Syria is the destruction of the self-proclaimed "Islamic State."

“We do not play any role in Aleppo. The forces that we support ... are fighting against ISIS, ”explained one Ministry of Defense official to the Daily Beast.

The intelligence community, which supported the opposition forces in Aleppo, believes that ISIS cannot be defeated while Assad remains in power. According to them, this terrorist group thrives where there is no stability. And only local forces - such as those supported by the CIA - will be able to get rid of this threat.

“The opposition is trying to keep its position in the face of the most brutal offensive of the Syrian and Russian forces,” one intelligence agency official explained. - The defeat of Assad is a necessary condition for the final victory over ISIS. As long as an insolvent leader remains in Damascus, and as long as Syria remains an insolvent state, ISIL will have a place from which it can manage its operations. ”

"You can not cope with LIH, if the state has ceased to be capable," - said this American official.

These disputes, which broke out between the two US departments, are evidence of the growing contradictions in the US approach to helping the rebels, who have already shown their inconsistency.

The Department of Defense is currently helping some rebel groups fighting against ISIL in the north and east of Syria, and more than 250 American military advisers are moving with the troops to ISIL, the city of Rakka. This same militant group is attacking the city of Manbij, which was a major highway for transporting people, weapons and inventories from Turkey to Syria. Meanwhile, the CIA has supported some opposition groups in Aleppo, the largest city in Syria, where in the past few weeks, Syrian and Russian troops have launched a powerful offensive.

"The United States has two independent programs that do not support, and sometimes even contradict each other," said Jennifer Cafarella, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, specializing in Syria.

In fact, American support for a particular group may vary depending on its location in Syria. For example, the Pentagon supports the Kurdish forces associated with the Kurdish Democratic Union party in eastern Syria, but it does not support the forces of the same party in the north of Aleppo. With the support of the Russians, the militants of this party in the north of Aleppo attacked the forces that the US is helping.

“In our country, departments should not argue with each other. The White House needs to decide what its approach to Assad and rebel groups should be. I think they have a clear approach to ISIS, ”said David Gartenstein-Ross, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, in an interview with the Daily Beast.

These differences within the Obama administration arose at a critical moment for the war in Syria. Aleppo may be under a multi-month siege in which the opposition and Russian-backed government troops will clash, causing many civilians to suffer and a new refugee stream. And this is the best scenario. In the worst case for opponents of the regime, Aleppo will fall under the control of the forces of Assad for several weeks, which is likely to ensure the survival of his regime. Meanwhile, the fall of Aleppo will not give any guarantees regarding the outcome of the war. In fact, it can spur Assad's opponents, such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to strengthen support for the opposition fighting on the front lines.

Meanwhile, Assad demonstrated his confidence in success earlier this week when, when addressing parliament, he declared that he would free Aleppo from foreign-backed "terrorists", and even added that Aleppo would eventually become a cemetery for Turkey.

“Our war on terrorism continues,” said Assad during his address to parliament, which was broadcast on state television. - As we freed Palmyra and many other cities before it, we will free every inch of Syria from their hands. Our only option is a victory, otherwise Syria will not survive. ”

Russia has repeatedly stated that its attacks are directed only at the positions of such terrorists as the “Front al-Nusra”, however, such statements are increasingly difficult to be taken seriously. Russia inflicted many blows on hospitals and positions of more moderate opposition.

On Wednesday, June 8, at least 15 people died as a result of two air strikes of government troops in Aleppo, as reported by the Syrian Human Rights Observatory, which keeps statistics on civilian casualties. One of these blows was reportedly inflicted on the hospital, and as a result, at least 10 people died. Representatives of this organization also reported that in one of the suburbs of Aleppo as a result of explosions of barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters, at least five people were killed, including two children.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, which tracks attacks in Syria, the number of places that came under attack by Russian troops has tripled over the past five days, from about 10 to 30. As the representatives of the institute explained, Russia is arranging a series of attacks along the opposition’s main supply route, Roads of Castello.

However, the Obama administration is not ready to provide new weapons to opposition groups or to increase the volume of aid, and officials of the administration and military department admit that it is very difficult to develop a strategy that would suit everyone.

“It is unclear whether there is such a strategy to help the opposition, in which the benefits would outweigh the costs. This is explained by the fact that al-Qaeda remains a very powerful force within the opposition. How can the opposition be strengthened without strengthening Al-Qaeda? ”Said Gartenstein-Ross.

It is worth noting that the coalition headed by the United States has no right to fight with the Syrian regime and its desire to break the will of the opposition. The US military mission is limited to strikes at positions of ISIS. In practice, this also causes a lot of problems. Currently, the United States and Russia are trying to avoid collisions between themselves, making it so that their air campaigns do not overlap. This allows Russia to some degree of influence on where the US will strike, and Assad’s supporters are unlikely to oversimplify the task of striking against government forces opposing the opposition.

Perhaps that is why, according to statistics from the Pentagon, a coalition led by the United States for several weeks did not strike in the Aleppo area.

Whatever the outcome of the attack on Aleppo, according to critics, the lack of a clear approach to the issue of supporting the rebels, reduces the ability of the United States to influence the settlement of the five-year Syrian conflict.

“Most likely, in the near future, these opposition groups will unite around radical groups that demonstrate higher efficiency,” said Kafarella.
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33 comments
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  1. +10
    11 June 2016 14: 01
    Democracy is in force, everyone is independent of everyone. They cannot agree on simple things. Intelligence and the military as they will seriously fight.
    1. +8
      11 June 2016 15: 08
      Not good at English, but it looks like the word "terrorist" in English sounds like "rebel". More precisely, in American slang.
      1. +7
        11 June 2016 15: 37
        Quote: Stock Officer
        Not good at English, but it looks like the word "terrorist" in English sounds like "rebel". More precisely, in American slang.


        When this madhouse ends with a drum for us, we do as we think it’s necessary.
      2. +2
        11 June 2016 16: 02
        Quote: Reserve officer
        Not good at English, but it looks like the word "terrorist" in English sounds like "rebel".

        Nothing like that.

        militant - fighter.
        rebel - rebel, rebel.
        guerilla - partisan - partisan.
        terrorist - terrorist.
        1. The comment was deleted.
        2. +2
          11 June 2016 20: 52
          Quote: Sid.74
          Quote: Reserve officer
          Not good at English, but it looks like the word "terrorist" in English sounds like "rebel".

          Nothing like that.

          militant - fighter.
          rebel - rebel, rebel.
          guerilla - partisan - partisan.
          terrorist - terrorist.


          Eugene, actually it was a joke. I understand that everyone has a lot of problems and the mood does not always have a sense of humor, but one cannot understand everything literally ...
          1. +1
            11 June 2016 22: 26
            Quote: Reserve officer
            Eugene, actually it was a joke. I understand that everyone has a lot of problems and the mood does not always have a sense of humor, but one cannot understand everything literally ...

            In fact, in your joke ... which I honestly did not understand .. there is a sense. what

            Since in the English and American press their own "sons" are usually called "rebels", that is, rebels and rebels.
            For example, foreign media called even notorious terrorists in Chechnya "freedom fighters" and "rebels", while keeping silent about all the atrocities and terrorist attacks against the population.

            The French media were also noticed in this. The French have cooled slightly in their love for terrorists only when they received their own terrorist acts in Paris.
    2. +2
      11 June 2016 15: 10
      "... how they will fight seriously."
      And you, as I understand it, are very worried about this incident ... on the straight, how, in fact, "they will fight seriously"? Here's a concern ... huh? Do not worry about them ... - figure it out somehow, not the first time tea.
      I personally care more about how we ourselves will seriously fight after our mess of the 90s. Yes ..., of course, now much is being done to overcome the consequences of the aforementioned mess, there are many good plans and programs that have yet to be implemented.
      And the fact that the Pentagon and Langley have disagreements on this particular case ... Duc and "okay", "the flag in their hands" is only "on hand" for us. It would always be like this ...
    3. The comment was deleted.
  2. +15
    11 June 2016 14: 04
    "Situational alliances created in the face of a Russian offensive are alliances based on military necessity, not on shared ideologies."

    Well, that makes a big difference. So both Vlasov and all kinds of nationalist SS divisions in the Second World War can be justified. They, honey, not sharing Hitler’s ideology, simply fought for it situationally in the face of the Soviet threat.

    "As a result, many civilians will be affected and a new influx of refugees threatened."

    Hypocrites, don't give a damn about civilians or refugees. No.

    "The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which maintains statistics on civilian casualties. One of these attacks reportedly hit a hospital, killing at least 10 people. The organization also said that in a suburb of Aleppo, Barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters killed at least five people, including two children. "

    What the hell are the representatives of the Syrian Observatory? belay There, one person stirs everything up - Osama Ali Suleiman. request

  3. +10
    11 June 2016 14: 05
    While the CIA and the Pentagon are arguing, Russia is attacking the US-supported rebels (The Daily Beast, USA)

    With regard to the CIA and the Pentagon, we can say this: whom they "gave birth" to are protected. And the Russian Federation is doing the right thing that it destroys such creatures created by the hands of those who sow death on the planet. And the EU, in fact, is also dragging along the USA along the same path, sowing chaos and war on usraine.
  4. +3
    11 June 2016 14: 07
    No one has called anyone to Syria. It is time for Assad to declare a no-fly zone over the territory of his country for these vultures, and Russia should support him in this.
    1. +5
      11 June 2016 15: 07
      "The defeat of Assad is a necessary condition for the final victory over ISIS." Fuck ... What else can you talk to them about? Doing what we feel is necessary and not paying more attention to their reactions and eternal "concerns".
    2. -5
      11 June 2016 15: 25
      Quote: semuil
      No one has called anyone to Syria. It is time for Assad to declare a no-fly zone over the territory of his country for these vultures, and Russia should support him in this.

      I said about the no-fly zone a year ago, but it turned out to be no use - they just minus me then. Apparently someone knows better ... eh ... Here is a normal almost quote - One main road and three bypasses, and all in 4-5 km. apart. Is this a problem for videoconferencing ??? Why then are the supply routes - these roads are not closed? It seems that ours really and long gone from there, and the press conferences in the General Staff pass according to the reports of the Syrians themselves. Or is there a jamb and a big jamb in our "kingdom"?
  5. +4
    11 June 2016 14: 09
    Some lobby their interests through the Pentagon, others through the CIA. And they have different interests. And with a fright, for example, Vanderbild 39, who had lousy the Pentagon to leave the whole oil rigs in Syria, would pay for the interests of Rockefeller 52, who desperately needed a gas pipeline through this territory. Ordinary American soldiers and scouts are phallomorphing locally from conflicting orders.
  6. +2
    11 June 2016 14: 13
    The rebels in Aleppo were in a difficult situation. The states openly support their terrorists, who are squeezing cities from a legitimate government - there’s nothing for them. Russia supports (and even if we also supported the DPR as its States in Syria) Donetsk and Lugansk - keep sanctions, etc., etc. It is time to spit on everyone around and take seriously the nenka
  7. +2
    11 June 2016 14: 14
    Maintaining endless chaos and continuing the war, this is the main task of the gang, headed by p-i-n-dos. And why wonder? Everything is one hundred percent predictable.
  8. +2
    11 June 2016 14: 17
    Lovely ones scold, only amuse themselves. True, at this time the "baby" can be lost. They fed, fed, and then the videoconferencing came, and bam.
    I don’t understand one thing. In Syria itself, finally, will there appear combat-ready troops comparable in combat qualities to the Barmalei? When you read the reports that the bearded forces are knocking out government troops from some settlements or districts - having neither aviation nor full-fledged artillery, you are inevitably bored with the question of the quality of the defending troops. Or were the Arabs stuck in the Middle Ages when mounted saber attacks decided the fate of the battle?
  9. +1
    11 June 2016 14: 32
    Disagreements went between the US departments in the wake of the failure of the Syrian opposition at the front. So far, everything was fine for everyone, just the system is arranged. Now those who oversaw some of the cutthroats who hide behind the name of the opposition who will lose will be to blame for everything. They will be wasted on money and reformed .
  10. bad
    +1
    11 June 2016 14: 33
    that situational alliances created in the face of the advance of the Russians are alliances based on military necessity, and not on a common ideology.
    ..interesting .. how would the CIA sing if the bearded men executed a couple of fur seals? .. until they got the hang of it ... okay .. our VKS gives everyone a splash — moderate and immoderate .. laughing
    1. 0
      11 June 2016 20: 24
      Quote: bad
      interesting .. how would the CIA sing if the bearded would execute a couple of fur seals

      No way. It was in our time that they rubbed any dregs that they supposedly had a government for their people, etc. In fact, they do not care.
  11. +2
    11 June 2016 14: 35
    "... the CIA, which supports these rebel groups, rejects this information, claiming that the ad hoc alliances forged in the face of the Russian offensive are alliances based on military necessity, not on shared ideologies ..."
    So there is still an alliance ?! So you can sell your soul to a self-aware "in the face of necessity."
    "... As long as a failed leader remains in Damascus, and while Syria remains a failed state ..."
    The facts suggest otherwise. Can a "failed state" headed by a "failed leader" fend off aggression supported by a know-it-all?
    In short, "you have to be calm and stubborn" © and everything will work out.
  12. +2
    11 June 2016 14: 38
    The right hand does not know what the left is doing. Hence the characteristic actions of the "elephant in the china shop". This is the whole fucking America - an example of democracy in which even government departments, sticking their "naughty hands" wherever they can not find a common language. All right, if no one suffered from this, and then after all, which in the account of the country is being destroyed by "infections"!
    A mess in the interaction of law enforcement agencies plus a blatant policy of interference in the internal affairs of other states - they do a double evil: total destruction and lack of prospects for creation.
    1. cap
      0
      11 June 2016 15: 20
      Quote: x.andvlad
      A mess in the interaction of law enforcement agencies plus a blatant policy of interference in the internal affairs of other states - they do a double evil: total destruction and lack of prospects for creation.


      Where and when, apart from planting "democracy", did the states say about creation?
      Nothing but devastation and subsequent robbery in all conceivable forms.
  13. +2
    11 June 2016 14: 47
    "Exceptional" can not be defined in any way ... lol
    1. +1
      11 June 2016 15: 00
      Another interesting question: "Can't or don't want?"
      Indeed, to finance their programs, you can well cut their budgets.
  14. The comment was deleted.
  15. +2
    11 June 2016 15: 10
    heh .. heh .. smile In Syria, each group of the opposing SAR has several sets of uniforms, flags and identification patches, which are worn by those recommended by the CIA instructors according to the current situation. In short: "Cut to hell, preventing peritonitis!" Yes
  16. 0
    11 June 2016 15: 58
    The Pentagon and the SAU, like two stupid dogs chasing their tail, and before the death of the civilian population and a real fight, GIVE, there is nothing to do, in a word - earplugs!
  17. +2
    11 June 2016 16: 21
    The intelligence community, which supported the opposition forces in Aleppo, believes that ISIS cannot be defeated while Assad remains in power. According to them, this terrorist group thrives where there is no stability. And only local forces - such as those supported by the CIA - will be able to get rid of this threat.

    Well, porridge in their head.
    This is megalomania in its purest form.

    Any special service, including the CIA, is primarily the collection of information and providing it for decision-making to the country's leadership.
    And already after working out and making a decision, specific measures are being taken.

    Not a single intelligence service in the world has succeeded in realizing the tasks that were charged to it by the government, and after that for a long time to control and rule a country or people.
    There are other services and other ways to do this.
    Specifically about the CIA: bribery, coup, landing in the chair of the head of his bitches. son, and rebound.
    Next, the State Department and diplomats begin to gloss.
  18. +2
    11 June 2016 16: 40
    These are "Not Rebels", but American Zasr.ntsy (from ISIS), as they say Suk .. Sons of the USA (like the same Samosa)
  19. +1
    11 June 2016 18: 31
    The main thing is to prove that an exceptional power can do everything
    what he wants, and how much it will be grief, blood and tears in the world no one cares.
  20. +1
    11 June 2016 20: 23
    Quote: “You cannot deal with ISIS if the state has ceased to be capable,” the American official added.
    I'm under the table)))) The state itself has collapsed, and they dare to say such a thing ... AAAAA !!! World has gone mad! wassat
    1. +1
      11 June 2016 20: 34
      Quote: demoniac1666
      Quote: “You cannot deal with ISIS if the state has ceased to be capable,” the American official added.

      That's right - the United States, after all, sought it. This is a variation of their tactics for "throwing countries into the Stone Age" and "reducing the world population." The first phrase is very popular among the American military, and the second is among the elites of the American behind the scenes.
  21. +1
    12 June 2016 04: 02
    The fact that there is a misunderstanding among these departments cannot but rejoice! In general, it would be joyful if they started shooting at each other!
  22. +1
    12 June 2016 11: 17
    "According to them, this terrorist group thrives where there is no stability."

    And who violated this very stability? Is it not opposition, under the wing of amers?

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