Comment and Opinion
Financial Times: West lacks will to arm Syrian rebels, by David Gardner
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“After Syria’s fragmented rebel forces coalesced last autumn into the National Coalition, it was assumed that the more than 100 countries that recognised it as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people would do a lot more to help the opposition bring down the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Instead, the US and the EU, chief midwives to a new Syrian opposition meant to be a military as well as political coalition, look as though they are willing the ends but are simply not prepared to will the means.
In particular, they are not willing – so far – to give mainstream rebel units the anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons they need to blunt the Assad regime’s military superiority, out of fear these arms could eventually be turned against western targets.”