US taxpayers now supplying Islamists in Syria with major weapons, many 'partner governments' say US taxpayers will be spending more of their hard earned dollars to help beheaders and slicers for 'CIA run' program-Wash. Post

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4/16/14, "Syrian opposition fighters obtain US-made anti-tank missiles," Stars and Stripes via Washington Post, Karen DeYoung

"Syria's opposition fighters have been supplied with U.S.-made anti-tank missiles, the first time a major American weapons system has appeared in rebel hands. It is unclear how the rebels obtained the wire-guided missiles, which are capable of penetrating heavy armor and fortifications and are standard in the U.S. military arsenal. The United States has sold them in the past to Turkey, among other countries, and the Pentagon approved the sale of 15,000 of the weapons to Saudi Arabia in December. Both countries aid Syrian opposition groups. U.S. officials declined to discuss the origin of the weapons but did not dispute that the rebels have them.

Their appearance on the ground in Syria coincides with a U.S. commitment this year to escalate a CIA-run program to supply and train vetted "moderate" rebel groups, and to improve coordination with other opposition backers....

Officials from a broad array of partner governments have said that the United States is slowly expanding its role as a leader and as a supplier. Some disagreements remain, including over a Saudi proposal — opposed by the administration — to supply the rebels with shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles capable of shooting down Syrian aircraft." via Free Rep.

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