Rebel Arms Flow Is Said to Benefit Jihadists in Syria

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/world/middleeast/jihadists-receiving-most-arms-sent-to-syrian-rebels.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&ref=world

The arms that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supplying to, supposedly, Syrian rebels, are actually making their way into the hands of Islamic jihadists.  The White House's stand off approach in the Syrian conflict has begun to be questioned by some.  The White House has been trying to take a democratic minded approach to the conflict instead of direct involvement.  Instead of providing arms directly to the Syrian rebels, the Obama administration is giving information to countries that are supplying arms namely Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  The question that arises is should the U.S. be taking a more direct approach in order to ensure the weapons go where they are meant to go.  The Syrian opposition is too disjointed to arrange for mass weapons pick ups and the jihadist groups are using this fault to their advantage.  They are simply pretending they are one of the Syrian rebel groups and gaining weapons in a relatively easy way.  At times it is not even the Saudi Arabians or the Qataris that are supplying the weapons.  Sometimes, it is a third party.  The weapons are changing hands far too many times for it to be possible to ensure they are getting where they are intended to go. 

Blog written by Chris Lencioni