Why does the US support the Free Syrian Army (FSA)?

PFC John Eskaff — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:45:39 -0500

I feel like the American Government has let down myself, and every soldier who I have fought along side. This is strictly opinion based but I would like to put this out there. Many soldiers have been to war in this generation right? Some have killed, some have died, but ALL sacrificed. Why is it then, that I feel if America does not turn it's back on the FSA (Free Syrian Army) Then my brothers in arms and myself have been betrayed? You might have a new name from where the battle is taking place *Syria* but the evil remains the same. IED's Brutal war crimes, Be headings, all while they shout out Allah Akbar. Does this not sound familiar to any other soldiers out there? Afghanistan, Iraq...... Al Nursa, which is part of Al Qaeda, Is in Syria and have been killing SAA and any supporters of the government. I have followed this war since the star, watched the country get torn apart, and still to this day there is foreign men coming from all over to Support these FSA terrorists. How am I supposed to be able to *Accept* that the American government is now trying to make us see the people we have fought and died for as friends? I don't claim that the Syrian Government are saints but because of the nature of the FSA Militants, and the things I have gone through in Afghanistan, I will never accept them as friends, and can't imagine why America is supporting them.<br>

Response by PFC John Eskaff made Nov 16 at 2013 5:48 PM

PFC John Eskaff — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:48:02 -0500

I would love to hear some other thoughts on the subject. I can't be the only soldier who feels betrayed from this, and I want to let you all know I am not looking through it from politics. This is strictly about the type of men Americans have fought against, but now is asked to support. <br>

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 16 at 2013 5:53 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:53:57 -0500

PFC Eskaff, your argument is baseless. Do some research and list some facts before you start making statements like the government has turned its back on you.

Response by PFC John Eskaff made Nov 16 at 2013 7:50 PM

PFC John Eskaff — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:50:13 -0500

I have done some research, As I stated it's not from a political point of view however. It's not that the government has turn it's back, but from the things I have seen, Videos watched and articles read, it just seems that the tactics used are what we would call a terrorist. I have seen numerous videos from the FSA committing barbaric acts for the purpose of propaganda. Killing Civilians and than blaming the SAA. The reason I posted this here is because I would like to know more about it all. I do not claim to be expert on the subject, and I do not claim the SAA are saints. I also know at the start the FSA welcomed in groups such as Al Nursa, but now have openly refused them. I did not post this to argue with anyone, or try to push my beliefs on to them, I simply would like people to break things down for me that I could understand, and see from both sides.
All I ask from fellow armed forces members who post is to take this with a grain of salt, and understand this is coming from a human who has issues understanding most things political. Take no offense in this post, but please feel free to break it down dummy style for me.

Response by SFC James Baber made Nov 17 at 2013 7:19 PM

SFC James Baber — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:19:25 -0500

It is all part of the current administrations way of adding to the military cuts, send support to them and the Muslim Brotherhood via weapons and other support, but at the same time claim we need to make cuts within the military to include veterans benefits and retirees pensions, makes sense to me doesn't it to you. Hopefully you can see and understand the grave sarcasm there. Just another way to spread the hatred more against America as it continues with support to organizations that would rather see us dead instead of alive.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 10 at 2014 9:54 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:54:44 -0400

Great Argument and Great Material for Debate. We as a Nation don't have such a good Rap/Repubation for those that we support and have had it blow up in our face way to many times. From the Mujahiddin Freedom Fighters that we supported that became the Al Queda against us. To Right Wing Despots and Dictators from South and Central America that we trained at the Army "School of the Americas". The Contras Right Wing Death Squads that we funded that had no problem killing and Raping Catholic Nuns and Priests for daring to preach Social Justice. Yeah I think we should seriously consider the funding and support of these people or at least do a better job Vetting Them.

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Oct 11 at 2015 9:50 PM

SPC Luis Mendez — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 21:50:15 -0400

Any involvement of the US in Syria is because Senator John McCain said to be so and the POTUS listened as a Favor to him for loosing in 2008.

Did the Recruiter promise you something different or better?

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 12 at 2015 3:31 AM

SPC David S. — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 03:31:55 -0400

This is a very complex situation - it is estimated that there could be as many as 1,000 armed opposition groups in Syria, commanding an estimated 100,000 fighters. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed in August 2011 by army deserters based in Turkey, led by Col Riad al-Asaad. Gulf Arab backers along we the US sought to develop a centralized rebel leadership On December 2012 a number of brigades affiliated themselves to a newly-created Supreme Military Council (SMC). The Brigades where encouraged to report through the chain of command to former SMC Chief of Staff Gen Idris,. He served more as a spokesman and conduit for foreign funding and arms shipments for the SMC. SMC-aligned brigades retained separate identities, agendas and commands. Some work with hardline Islamist groups that causes proplems for the US, such as Ahrar al-Sham, and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists. At the time when all of this developing in 2013 November the Islamic front was formed. Seven Islamist groups - Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya, Jaysh al-Islam, Suqour al-Sham, Liwa al-Tawhid, Liwa al-Haqq, Ansar al-Sham and the Kurdish Islamic Front - declared that they were forming a rebel alliance with an estimated 45,000 fighters. However while they to wanted to topple the Assad regime there was in fighting between them and the SMC. In December 2013 the Front split off from the SMC and kicked the SMC out of northern Syria. The Islamic Front does not include al-Qaeda affiliates like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the al-Nusra Front. On top of all this the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front (SILF) formed in September 2012. In November 2013, Liwa al-Tawhid and Suqour al-Sham left SILF and joined the Islamic Front, To further complicate the Syria conflict there are many more secular as well as jihadist factions engaged in the conflict - ISIS/ISIL. Besides our support there are other nations with their own objectives. Like Saudi Arabia's support of the Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam), Iran and Hezbollah which both were removed from the US list of terror threats to help push the Iran nuke deal. This is a very dynamic environment with groups aligning, falling out, and attacking one another differently on a daily basis. FSA was working with Now this is where it gets complex - the FSA was working with Belhadj and the al-Qaeda-linked Libyan Islamic Fighting Group smuggling heavy arms left over from Muammar Gaddafi via Benghazi to Turkey then into Syria. This was all part of a secret agreement reached in early 2012 between the Obama and Erdoğan administrations. By the terms of the agreement, funding came from Turkey, as well as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The CIA, with the support of MI6, were responsible for getting arms from Gaddafi’s arsenals into Syria. This is the problem with foreign policy sometimes to create the change you deal with all sorts - some good bat some bad having their own objectives. While you feel abandoned you can't take such matters personally this is a mess.