Defense budget cuts $$$ for Afghanistan, adds $$$ for Syrian rebels

The Stars & Stripes reports that the White House has sent their “Overseas Contingency Operations” budget to Congress. It has cut spending for Afghanistan while adding a 1/2 million billion bucks to arm “appropriately vetted” Syrian rebels fighting against the government;

[T]he budget, known as Overseas Contingency Operations, includes for the first time money to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels that are not only fighting President Bashar Assad’s government but also a wing of the same al-Qaida-inspired group challenging the U.S.-backed leadership in Iraq.

The funds are part of a new $5-billion pot of money called the counter-terrorism partnerships fund, an initiative announced by President Barack Obama during a West Point speech on the future of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in May.

I’m just wondering how they plan on “vetting” these people they’re going to arm – because you know terrorists are always so truthful about their intentions. There were al Qaeda and Taliban who had infiltrated Afghan police and army units and were able to murder US personnel in the last few years. Karzai assured us that they were vetted before they were armed and trained and then went on their shooting sprees.

The Washington Times reports;

Officials said the administration would coordinate with Congress and regional players on the specific types of training and assistance the U.S. would provide the opposition. One potential option would be to base U.S. personnel in Jordan and conduct the training exercise there.

Well, that makes me feel better – Congress is jam-packed with folks with military experience who should be given honorary general ranks and determine how our proxy wars should be fought. They have such a flawless record of military expertise.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Terror War