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Daily News Analysis

US missiles for Syrian rebels via Saudis

Crescent International

The Saudis have intensified their subversion of any chances of a negotiated settlement in Syria. The purchase of nearly 16,000 anti-tank missiles from the US at a price of $1.1 billion in meant for the Saudi-sponsored mercenaries in Syria. Will the latest move succeed or merely add to the misery of the people.

Washington DC, Crescent-online
December 08, 2013, 11:39 EDT

The US has announced the sale of thousands of anti-tank missiles to Saudi Arabia. The deal includes the supply of 14,000 wire-guided missiles as well as 1700 other missiles at a price of more than $1 billion.

The deal came to light when the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on December 5 that it had approved the supply of TOW missiles to the desert kingdom. The deal was announced on the eve of Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit to the Middle East where he attended the Manama Dialogue Summit in Bahrain yesterday.

“The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a critical partner who has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability in the Middle East,” DSCA said.

Informed observers of the region are convinced that the missiles are not needed by the Saudis; they are incapable of using them. The missiles are destined for the foreign mercenaries in Syria that the Saudis are backing.

Over the years, the Saudis have purchased hundreds of billions of dollars worth of weapons but they still live in constant fear. Instead, their signature mark is to promote sectarianism. They have found Syria a fertile ground to practice their nefarious designs although not with much success.

The Saudis are financing, training and arming the thousands of mercenaries that have flooded into Syria creating mayhem by indulging in brutal beheadings and cannibalism. For nearly two years, the Saudis have paid for weapons purchased from Croatia that are ferried by the CIA to Jordan from whence they are smuggled into Syria.

The mercenaries and even members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have asked for anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. In their desperation, the Saudis are now prepared to fulfill their wish.

The Saudi regime is also opposed to a negotiated settlement in Syria. The UN announced that Geneva-II conference will be held on January 22 but the Saudis are working to undermine it. Saudi-sponsored groups have demanded Bashar al-Asad’s resignation, a condition that will sabotage the conference. Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy has said there would be no pre-conditions for the conference.

The latest move by the Saudis to supply anti-tank missiles in intended to continue the conflict in Syria and indeed intensify it.

END


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