Arm the Syrian Rebels. Now. By Michael Doran and Salman Shaikh. Foreign Policy, February 8, 2013.
Doran and Shaikh:
It is
important to remember that arming the FSA is a political act. The most
important decision of all is simply to provide lethal assistance. The goal of
the operation is to build a force on the ground that is more likely to respect
American interests and that is committed to building a nonsectarian, stable
Syria. Even the provision of light weaponry would be a good start to this
project.
This
policy does entail the risk of unintended consequences. Some arms may flow to
al Qaeda. Some groups may take American aid and then turn against the United
States. But inaction also carries risks. The current hands-off policy has
hardly succeeded in preventing extremists from acquiring arms. It has simply
given them time and incentive to develop their own independent sources of
external support.
By
establishing itself as the most important international player shaping the
conflict inside Syria, the United States will lay the groundwork for helping
the Syrian people forge a genuine national dialogue on the nature of their
transition. This should include the creation of a national platform that brings
together Syria's diverse ethnic and religious communities – including Sunnis,
Shiites, Alawis, Christians, and Kurds, as well as tribal and religious figures
– to discuss the future of the country. In particular, it should include Alawis
who enjoy wide legitimacy within their community, but who are also willing to
talk about a post-Assad Syrian regime.
