The UK sends £5 million to Syrian rebels

[Reece]

The UK on Friday approved an extra £5m to fund supplies for Syria’s rebel fighters, in another sign of growing western involvement with the insurgency to topple Bashar al-Assad, the president.
The decision came as the UN and the Arab League were considering nominating Lakhdar Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister and international troubleshooter, to replace Kofi Annan, who resigned last week as envoy to Syria following the failure of his peace plan.

Diplomats said Mr Brahimi was one of the candidates under consideration. But sources close to Mr Brahimi said it was not clear whether he was willing to take on a job that has been seen as an impossible mission, particularly without any sign of greater international unity.
The UN Security Council has been paralysed by divisions between western states supportive of the Syrian opposition, and Russia and China, which have blocked attempts to remove Mr Assad from power.

Mr Brahimi has served as UN special envoy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Working on behalf of the Arab League, he played an instrumental role in brokering the 1989 Taif agreement that ended Lebanon’s civil war.

In London, William Hague, the UK foreign secretary, insisted Britain still wanted a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria even as he approved funds for the rebels in an action that was being co-ordinated with other western nations.
Until now Britain had only provided £1.4m in so-called “non-lethal support” for opposition groups. The funding announced on Friday will include medical supplies such as surgical equipment and medicines, water purification, forensic kit and body armour for civilians involved in protecting others.

Other support for rebel groups, including the Free Syrian Army, will include more radio and satellite equipment as well as portable power generators. Money will also be spent on countering the techniques being used by the Syrian government to jam and block communications.
Meanwhile, the US imposed new sanctions on Hizbollah, the Shia Muslim militant group, which it said had been providing “training, advice and extensive logistical support” to the Syrian authorities. The administration of Barack Obama, US president, also imposed new sanctions on the Syrian state-owned oil company Sytrol, which it said had been selling gasoline to Iran in contravention of sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.

The impact of the new measures is likely to be limited, however, given the existing US sanctions that are in place. Hizbollah has already been designated as a terrorist organisation under two separate US executive orders.
Syria’s rebels have been voicing increased criticism of the western nations which have called repeatedly for Mr Assad’s departure but have ruled out any military intervention.
The FSA, however, has been receiving funds and weapons from Saudi Arabia and Qatar and logistical support from Turkey.

The US has been inching closer to greater involvement with the FSA with the White House allowing US intelligence agencies to share information about troop movements with some of the groups. A Syria lobby group in the US has also been granted a Treasury department licence to raise funds to support the FSA.

Analysts, however, say that western states’ gradual but still-limited involvement helps sustain the rebels but does not provide them with sufficient strength to defeat the regime.

On Friday, Mr Assad’s forces continued to pound rebel positions in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, from the ground and air, after retaking control of the Salaheddine district, one of the main opposition strongholds. Rebels said on Thursday that they were forced to retreat from Salaheddine with some complaining that they were running out of ammunition.

News agencies reported on Friday that in parts of the country activists held protests demanding that the rebels be provided with anti-aircraft guns.

The US state department, however, insisted the rebels were continuing to gain ground. “We think the rebels are getting stronger,” Patrick Ventrell, a department spokesman, told reporters in Washington, according to the Associated Press. “So they may tactically retreat from neighbourhoods here or there, but the broader trend line is that the opposition continues to gain strength as they hold large swaths of territory in the north.”

[Alan.Wake]

>Gives away weapons to Rebels.
>Yells at Russia sending arms to Syria government.
>Russia brings in warship.
Surely the West want something badly by sending millions of money...

My heart goes to those innocent people who have joined the rebellion as they do not know about those who started it.

[SafetyMoose]

Well its obvious now that this is just a repeat of Libya.

[Dolfagr]

>Gives away weapons to Rebels.
>Yells at Russia sending arms to Syria government.
>Russia brings in warship.
Surely the West want something badly by sending millions of money...

My heart goes to those innocent people who have joined the rebellion as they do not know about those who started it.

 Care to read. The funds are for telecommunication and medical supplies. If there was profit from the Syria as much as in Libya then they'd send weapons. Qatar and S.Arabia have been sending weapons only, as far as it's known.

 Who started it? Simple citizens asking for political reforms by the regime that's been there 46 years, in forms of protesting. They got beat up, shot down, tired of that shit then decided to take up arms which is obvious that'd happen. Plus the last time they did an attempted rebellion 40.000 of them got killed by the President's father.

However the involvement of Al Qaeda and other Islamic groups does give the rebellion a bad image.

[Alan.Wake]

Care to read. The funds are for telecommunication and medical supplies. If there was profit from the Syria as much as in Libya then they'd send weapons. Qatar and S.Arabia have been sending weapons only, as far as it's known.

Of course... medical and telecommunication...

Who started it? Simple citizens asking for political reforms by the regime that's been there 46 years, in forms of protesting. They got beat up, shot down, tired of that shit then decided to take up arms which is obvious that'd happen. Plus the last time they did an attempted rebellion 40.000 of them got killed by the President's father.

However the involvement of Al Qaeda and other Islamic groups does give the rebellion a bad image

Yea.... A caliphate is needed and it will not be soon. Saudi and Qatar kings? Don't even ask about them as i heard enough from the people as well as seen enough of what they do.

[Dolfagr]

Of course... medical and telecommunication...

Yea.... A caliphate is needed and it will not be soon. Saudi and Qatar kings? Don't even ask about them as i heard enough from the people as well as seen enough of what they do.

Yes because with 5 million pounds you can buy shitloads of missiles and anti-aircraft weapons from a market in Turkey. Plus you do not have any evidence to support these facts that West has been supplying weapons.

As for the Saudis and Qatari Kings, I am well aware of themselves oppressing their citizens rights. They get involved a lot in shit they shouldn't trying to take advantage. But they're the only ones who attempt to help, so you of course expect the rebels to see hope in them and be seduced. not that it's justified.

[Alan.Wake]

Yes because with 5 million pounds you can buy shitloads of missiles and anti-aircraft weapons from a market in Turkey. Plus you do not have any evidence to support these facts that West has been supplying weapons.

No, i don't have evidence of the nations of West handing out weapons, but the weapons the rebels have is enough to convince me of who might have.

As for the Saudis and Qatari Kings, I am well aware of themselves oppressing their citizens rights. They get involved a lot in shit they shouldn't trying to take advantage. But they're the only ones who attempt to help, so you of course expect the rebels to see hope in them and be seduced. not that it's justified.

They are corrupt, that all i can say for now.

[Dolfagr]

No, i don't have evidence of the nations of West handing out weapons, but the weapons the rebels have is enough to convince me of who might have.

They are corrupt, that all i can say for now.

They mostly use Russian and Chinese weapons, if you're talking about FAL's and such rifles, these were sent by the Libyan Rebels who received the weapons from the West.

Not corrupt in a way, but illegitimate.

[Alan.Wake]

Not corrupt in a way, but illegitimate.

I wasn't only stating their role at the Syria war, but yes, you could say that.

They mostly use Russian and Chinese weapons, if you're talking about FAL's and such rifles, these were sent by the Libyan Rebels who received the weapons from the West.

Perhaps so or not.

[Kirgiz]

Care to read. The funds are for telecommunication and medical supplies.

HAHAHAHAHA

Seriously? You believe this bullshit? How naive can one be?

Not to sound disrespectful or offending, but you're being blatantly wrong, can't you see this is a cover up funding.
Post Merge: August 10, 2012, 10:54:12 pm

Yes because with 5 million pounds you can buy shitloads of missiles and anti-aircraft weapons from a market in Turkey.

Missiles? Do you understand how rebellion works? It's not an all-out scale war out there.

Anti-aircraft weapons? Anti-Air STRELA does not cost that much. Last time I heard it was nearly 20,000$. With 5 million dollars you can get a fuckload of AK-47's, Dragunov's, Glocks, UZIs, RPGs, Grenades and additional ammunition, and with that you can get more than enough anti-air ontops. You might even get some light armored vehicles.

[Dolfagr]

HAHAHAHAHA

Seriously? You believe this bullshit? How naive can one be?

Not to sound disrespectful or offending, but you're being blatantly wrong, can't you see this is a cover up funding.

And your accusations are still evidence-less, and until you show me something reliable I'll stick to my theory whilst there is more than enough evidence Russia supplies the regime with SAM, and Mi assault helicopters. Now go watch RT, it's as reliable as CNN. 

[Kirgiz]

And your accusations are still evidence-less, and until you show me something reliable I'll stick to my theory whilst there is more than enough evidence Russia supplies the regime with SAM, and Mi assault helicopters. Now go watch RT, it's as reliable as CNN. 

Still haven't seen evidence to religion yet people blindly follow it. Same can apply here, but holy shit its so f**king common sense. Or you are one of those who really thinks that Putin's wealth yearly is $433,000?

Funny last thing, you haven't posted a source yourself.

[Alan.Wake]

Still haven't seen evidence to religion yet people blindly follow it

A friendly advise to Dolfagr, avoid arguing with this person as he is not worth it.

[Dolfagr]

A friendly advise to Dolfagr, avoid arguing with this person as he is not worth it.

I am not arguing, but I enjoy discussing with other people in regards of politics, yet thanks for the advice 

Still haven't seen evidence to religion yet people blindly follow it.

No religion discussion. I may be open to politics, but not more as it's disallowed.

Funny last thing, you haven't posted a source yourself.

I don't see how it's funny, maybe you chuckled a bit, but yeah sure http://rt.com/politics/russia-syria-arms-farnborough-933/

And that's an official Russian source signed by Russian officials 

Or you are one of those who really thinks that Putin's wealth yearly is $433,000?

Implying Putin has only legal income then yes 

[Nathan_Alexandrov]

lets just wait watch, few years later those weapons will be armed at the UK for being too western, seriously our government needs to pull its fucking thumb out.