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On Tue, October 7, 2014 17:01, Shane Mage via Marxism wrote: > > We have seen here repeated claims that the rrrevolutionaries in Syria > never received any significant outside assistance. No that hasn't been claimed, which is why Biden's remarks are not breaking news (to anyone but Shane). What has been claimed is that few or no actual WEAPONS have been sent to them by the US despite earlier suggestions that had the Syrian National Council, for instance, wasting their time (and reputation) in pursuit of what they had been been led to expect. The big chance that the FSA had to receive US weapons was last year when it would have been under the condition of fighting al-Nusra on behalf of the US which they rightfully refused. Nor is it news that Turkey and several Arab states and private doners have given relatively large amounts of aid. That aid went largely not to the secular forces but "moderate" Islamic currents (but ones very much carrying out the revolution, unlike ISIS), which further tilted the balance in that direction and away from forces that might be viewed as "left" or "democratic". So that has made it more difficult to convince leftists and liberals in the West to support their revolution but hasn't made the revolution any less valid. Most all of those forces are still committed to democratic principles and pluralism. But like in Libya, where the international left overwhelmingly abandoned the revolution at the first sight of a NATO bomber, the left in Syria will have suffered from our neglect, and I am quite sure will not be the leading party in the first free election to take place in Syria. - Jeff P.S. I recommend reading "Why Does the Free Syrian Army Hate Us?" just posted on this list by Michael Karadjis. > So when someone > with total access to the truth slips up and blurts it out, we might as > well take notice: > > "The latest furor started after he spoke at Harvard Universitys John > F. Kennedy School of Government last Thursday. Mr. Biden said American > allies including Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates had > extended unconditional financial and logistical support to Sunni > fighters trying to oust the Syrian government of President Bashar al- > Assad. > > 'Our allies poured hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of > thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against al- > Assad,' he said, including jihadists planning to join the Nusra Front > and Al Qaeda. > > Mr. Biden also confided that Turkeys President Erdogan told me he > is an old friend You were right. We let too many people > through.'" (NYT, 7/10) ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
