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THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION said today that it will provide the Syrian opposition with an additional $60 million (just over €45 million) in assistance and – in a significant policy shift – will for the first time provide nonlethal aid like food and medical supplies to rebels battling to oust President Bashar Assad.
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced the new support and the decision to back the rebel fighters on the sidelines of an international conference on Syria in Rome, where European nations were also expected to signal their intention to provide fresh assistance to the opposition, possibly including defensive military hardware.
“No nation, no people should live in fear of their so-called leaders,” Kerry said.
He said the US decision is designed to increase the pressure on Assad to step down and pave the way for a democratic transition. The aid is also intended to help the opposition govern newly liberated areas of Syria and blunt the influence of extremists.
‘Out of time and out of power’
Kerry said Assad “is out of time and must be out of power.”
“For more than a year, the United States and our partners have called on Assad to heed the voice of the Syrian people and to halt his war machine,” Kerry said. “Instead, what we have seen is his brutality increase.”
Kerry added, “The United States’ decision to take further steps now is the result of the brutality of superior armed force propped up by foreign fighters from Iran and Hezbollah.”
Washington has already provided $385 million (just under €300 million) in humanitarian aid to Syria’s war-weary population and $54 million (just over €41 million) in communications equipment, medical supplies and other nonlethal assistance to Syria’s political opposition.
The US also has screened rebel groups for Turkey and American allies in the Arab world that have armed rebel fighters.
Money going directly to rebels
Until now, no US dollars or provisions have gone directly to rebel fighters, reflecting concerns about forces that have allied themselves with more radical Islamic elements since Assad’s initial crackdown on peaceful protesters in March 2011.
“Given the stakes, the president will now extend food and medical supplies to the Syrian opposition, including the Supreme Military Council,” Kerry said today.
The money pledged today will go to Assad’s political opposition. US officials said the rations and medical supplies will be delivered to the rebels through their military council, and is to be distributed only to carefully vetted members of the Free Syrian Army.
The US will be sending technical advisers to the Syrian National Coalition offices in Cairo to oversee and help them spend the money for good governance and rule of law. The advisers will be from non-governmental organisations and other groups that do this kind of work.
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What About all the paedophiles the ira/sinn fein protected through their kangaroo courts….I’m happy enough with 26 counties, maybe even 25, done gal can go too..
Make a separate country of the 7 counties
@hi from heaven: does that mean we won’t have to pay for the pyrite scandal.If so I’m in.
@hi from heaven: Doesn’t matter either way, in 10 years we’re all going speaking Arabic and praying 90 times a day.
@hi from heaven: you know nothing about earth never mind heaven.
@IzwvqAph: bigot
@IzwvqAph: I’ve been hearing that for the last 10 years bro
@Anthony Curran: Stephen likes to live in a fantasy world.
@hi from heaven: Go across the water with west Brit.
@Brendan O’Brien: Here Factor 50, shush. Get your wellies on, rain is forecast.
@Daniel Roche: Why don’t you go live up in Northern Ireland if you’re so worried about it
@Ger Whelan: I live in Ireland with the other 32 counties of Ireland. Why don’t you take your West Brit ship home.you won’t leave too much of a coward,people in the North of Ireland are as irish as me living in Limerick
@Ger Whelan: I’m worried about donegal,do I have to move to each irish County? You have shown your West Brit colours. Did your family take the soup, too? It explains a lot.
@Daniel Roche: Except you don’t. There isn’t a country called Ireland. There is an Island of Ireland which has 2 countries on it, the Republic of Ireland and Northern island. No amount of childishness from you will change that absolute fact..
@IzwvqAph: Speak for yourself.
Wow…not seen SF in the news in ages…something must be up
@Ash Pleed: they were hiding. But now they need an urgent distraction away from one of their bigwigs being charged with three murders.
@John Mulligan: ‘ one of their bigwigs’ ? I hope you’ve got proof after making such an accusation?
death penalty instead of review…vermin
@well done to all the rescue teams: No, death is too good for him let him rot is a 6×4 windowless jail cell for 24hrs a day. No daylight or contact with others until the day he finally dies
@Ger Whelan: sounds good too!
Jim Jennings of RTE content department is rumored to be joining The top of Disney movie dept.
@Stanley darsh: I doubt it…that man was very very very very very very very sick could not even make the pac hearings for a day, according to his doctor, and I very much doubt his doctor would lie
@hi from heaven: it’s a shame he had to leave, he had such an eye for quality and talent.
Ffg have been protecting child abusers since the foundation of the state and a section of irish society are turning a blind eye to vile abuse
I am pat cusack a victim of michael shine who was abused over 20 times by him in hospital. Anyone calling for justice for the 300 plus victims of shine is doing good.
I think some of the previous comments are irrelevant and un helpful. When will we ever cop on Shine will be shown after death of course to be the most prolific independent serial sexual abuser/paedophile in Europe if not the world..everyone should be calling for the truth..
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