President Obama seeks $500M to train, equip Syrian rebels.

MSG(P) Michael Warrick — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 22:54:14 -0400

Here is a link to a story that just came out today and I would love to hear your thoughts?

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/06/26/obama-seeks-500m-to-train-equip-syrian-rebels/20920743/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl35%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D494029

Obama seeks $500M to train, equip Syrian rebels

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 10:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 22:58:21 -0400

Not just no but HELL NO!!! Why are we giving them money when it could be better spent here??? SMH!!!

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 26 at 2014 11:11 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:11:08 -0400

The military can't get a decent raise, reduction in the forces to so-called save more, refuse to help veterans to get full compensation, but spend $500 Million Dollars on some other country hell no. I'm tired of American citizens being unemployed, homeless, can't get a fair wage on the job, and among other multiple things wrong in this country.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jun 26 at 2014 11:23 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:23:21 -0400

Abso-freaking-lutely not. One, it is a slap to every vet and active duty service member because the government claims they can't take care of us well enough...500 million could help the military and vets out quite a bit. two, every time we help someone in the Middle East it comes back to haunt us, examples, Saddam, and Bin Laden. Three, who is vetting these rebels, I do not see anyone in Washington qualified. They cannot even vet their appointees let alone a terrorist rebel.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2014 12:44 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:44:54 -0400

Sure, because all of that money and training we threw at the Iraqi military certainly helped when ISIS blew through Mosul. Maybe, instead, we could spend it on the VA and get my brothers and sisters off of the secret lists.

You know, I joined the military as a matter of honor. It seems honor is all I have left. I’m beginning to wonder why anyone would want to join.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 27 at 2014 12:57 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:57:02 -0400

I don't necessarily think money used to train foreign militaries as a waste. I see it as a long term investment, where the reward you reap is that you won't need to send our boys over there which WILL entail a higher cost in dollars and American blood in the long term.

The issue I see here is the POTUS's timing. This should have been done TWO YEARS ago. At this point, it's too little too late. Using the investment analogy again, it's all about timing. Had we given money to the rebels back when it was purely a secular fight between them and the government, we may have been able to shape and inflluence the outcome to our benefit. We refused to do that, so someone else stepped in (ISIS) and shaped and influenced the fight to THEIR benefit.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2014 1:29 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:29:57 -0400

I agree with the opinions given by SSG Private RallyPoint Member , SSgt Private RallyPoint Member , LCpl Steve Wininger and MSG Floyd Williams. POTUS does have poor timing, but regardless, the idea of pouring more money into other countries while we have massive problems at home, cutbacks in staffing levels and reduced wage increases just boggles the mind. I can see the investment point of view put forth by LTC Paul Labrador but I'm sorry that just doesn't cut it for me. Our leaders (Congress and POTUS) need to do better with the most precious resource entrusted to it, the sons and daughters of this country. Veterans are dying while waiting for care and current service members sit and pray they are not the next to be told they were selected for separation. But we have $500 million laying around for assisting a foreign country that hates us and has harbored international terrorists for decades? WAKE UP AMERICA!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 27 at 2014 1:34 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:34:03 -0400

Bob P. seeks $500M to live vicariously in the lap of luxury for the rest of his life. Yeah that'll happen!

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Jun 27 at 2014 2:02 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 14:02:38 -0400

Hell, I would not support these rebels since some of them have been usurped by those like ISIS. Syria is a country that, yes we may not like the regime there, we should support now. We also should have been talking to Russia too about all this instead of allowing it to fall apart. We should not being telling other countries what they can and can not do.

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Jun 27 at 2014 6:07 PM

MSG(P) Michael Warrick — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:07:40 -0400

The military cannot even get a decent raise, there is a reduction in the forces to so-called save more, refuse to help veterans to get full compensation, but spend $500 Million Dollars on some other country hell? I am tired of American citizens being mistreated and no provided the things to make our own country better !

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2014 4:40 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:40:39 -0400

Any weapons, financial assistance or any other support should be tied to a enforceable committment to protecting all people; including Christians. The State Department needs to investigate and confront the Syrian Free Army and other Muslim partners with Christian Genocide and Christian persecution in the Middle East

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2014 7:26 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:26:43 -0400

Is anyone going to investigate the genocide of Christians, Jews and other faiths at the hands of our "partners" in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan etc. PRIOR to giving them hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars?
Will there be any accountability?

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Sep 10 at 2014 12:49 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:49:47 -0400

Yes, because that worked so well for us arming, training, and equipping the mujahudin in Afghanistan against the Soviets.

Those who do not study history and all....

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 12 at 2014 2:32 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 02:32:00 -0400

Give me $500M and I'll get some unemployed U.S. veterans and get better results.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 19 at 2014 1:59 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:59:53 -0400

For a covert plan, we seem to know a LOT about it?

I found it interesting the the head line is about $500 million of a $65.8 billion plan?

Here is my biggest...concern...who and how are we vetting rebels in Syria? I hope it is not the same group of people who vetted the Afghan Mujahideen before it turned into the Taliban and al-Qaeda?

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Sep 25 at 2014 7:01 PM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:01:52 -0400

Wasn't Syria our sworn enemy just a few years back? Every time we train them, they wind up our enemies. Osama for starters.