Citing U.S. Fears, Arab Allies Limit Syrian Rebel Aid

[Gerald]

Denied more weapons like shoulder-fired missiles, Syrian rebels rely on rifles like this Kalashnikov, or AK. “You can’t stop the Syrian regime’s military with AKs,” a state official in Qatar said.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — For months, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been funneling money and small arms to Syria’s rebels but have refused to provide heavier weapons, like shoulder-fired missiles, that could allow opposition fighters to bring down government aircraft, take out armored vehicles and turn the war’s tide. While they have publicly called for arming the rebels, they have held back, officials in both countries said, in part because they have been discouraged by the United States, which fears the heavier weapons could end up in the hands of terrorists.

As a result, the rebels have just enough weapons to maintain a stalemate, the war grinds on and more jihadist militants join the fray every month.

“You can give the rebels AKs, but you can’t stop the Syrian regime’s military with AKs,” said Khalid al-Attiyah, a state minister for foreign affairs in Qatar. Providing the rebels with heavier weapons “has to happen,” he added. “But first we need the backing of the United States, and preferably the U.N.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/wo...rebels.html?hp


Note: October 6, 2012

[Stealhead]

They dont seem to specify what they mean by "shoulder fired missile" to me they are talking about a MANPADs which might be in low supply but they must surely have plenty of RPGs which can take out a tank even a T-72.

Even if they get a supply of better anti tank weapons it might not make much of a difference if they fail to use them effectively just having a better weapon is not enough.

I think what the rebels lack is solid organization and discipline. In this video you can see that they do have RPGs and even a home made mortar tube it also shows that at least this group are bunch clowns more or less.They need discipline badly and anyone that shows up to provide it will have power.Just look at the derp with the 12 gauge in the second video.

http://news.linktv.org/videos/life-w...nd-cunning-war

http://news.linktv.org/videos/aleppo...y-indiscipline

[Gerald]

Something like this that you describe,or similar equipment.

[Gerald]

^I saw the links .. and "light" weapons.

[MH]

Sorry for not being original.....

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Something like this that you describe,or similar equipment.

Weapons that they lack the discipline to use properly and the AT-4 they already have the Russian counterpart to that the RPG-7 which for their needs is a better weapon as the AT-4 is a one time use weapon fire the rocket throw away the tube you need to carry several AT-4s compared to one RPG tube and several rockets of varying type.They like to use the RPG as an indirect fire weapon against troops which can actually be effective if you know what you are doing if not it is little more than an irritation.

They have no real discipline or organization to allow them to effectively combat the Syrian armed forces in that one video they had the POW drive the bomb laden truck and it of course did not explode so they wasted resources and allowed an enemy combatant to fight another day it seems that the idea of integrating the guy for information did not even cross their minds.One kid says that he has 4 magazines for his AK-47 that is only 120 rounds which judging by their fire discipline would last perhaps 2 or 3 minutes at best in a real firefight.My guess is that only a handful are really truly fighting and even those types lack any discipline to really have a effect lasting.

They need an air force to gain air superiority and to destroy the Syrian artillery that deals them so much damage.

[Skybird]

The Libyan war showed that weapons alone did not help the rebels, but the training they got and their growing experience in how to coordinate groups of fighters on the ground and actually act in battle like a coordinated force, instead of many single small teams doing what they want and ignoring the others, and lacking the discipline to coordinate with others. When they had learned that, they suddenly became much more potent as a fighting force, even with those improvised weapons of theirs.

Modern Western or Russian weapons, no matter whether simple assault rifles or missiles of any type, should be taboo. Iran and Islamic terror groups will make sure they get their share of such deliveries. Guess whom they will point them at next.

What they could get, if one really thinks it is no idiotic idea at all to get involved in Syria, is old Russian weapons from the black market.

If one thinks that is no idiotic idea. I personally think we should not get involved, and should enforce an embargo that hinders Russia, China and Iran to send in military supplies, as far as that is possible without starting to blow up Russian freighters or transports, which maybe would be no good idea. And to stumble into world war iii over a dark place like Syria is not worth it, I think. It's enough to occasionally blow up their latest nuclear weapon program component, like the Israelis did. Which leaves one wondering why one has not started to do that 15 years ago with regard to Iran. Would have saved us from many troubles we have today with Iran - and more to come.

What's more, the Turkish messiah-emperor Erdoghan I. uses the conflict to boost Turkish dominance and profile in the region. I see no need to assist him in that. Or give him the opportunity to hijack and abuse NATO for his intentions.

[soopaman2]

Do these guys got reactive armor on the tanks?

Or slat armor.

RPG 7s are crap on that, unless you manage to land multiple shots, which is always a bit of luck considering it is unguided.

Russians just sell them crap don't they?

Not taking sides, I am just happy to see them killing each other, rather than Americans.

[TLAM Strike]

Weapons alone are not going to help these guys...