Hagel Says US Considering Arming Syrian Rebels

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that the US government is considering arming the Syrian rebels. Members of the US government, especially Senators Graham and McCain have been calling for doing so, for some time now.

The United Kingdom has already been considering such a move, but is blocked by a EU ban on doing so. However, that ban expires in just a few weeks, and the UK is moving to supplying arms as soon as it does. Qatar and Saudi Arabia already supply arms to the rebel forces.

Opponents of the move point out that Al Qaeda is a very active and well known part of the rebel forces. Al Qaeda still maintains their goal of destroying the US, and many other countries, through terrorist means.

France and multiple African countries are currently fighting the terrorist network, in Mali. US ally, Yemen is fighting a wing of the group in their own country. The Taliban, an Al Qaeda ally, is active in attacks against US, UK, and allied troops in Afghanistan as well as disrupting things in Pakistan.

If the US and UK begin supplying arms to rebel forces in Syria, those same arms could see their way to being used against US and UK troops. By supplying Syria's rebels, they could be giving out the very weapons and ammunition that will later kill their own troops or civilians.