Building a new Syrian army would cost billions, report says:
Pollack's new analysis paper, "Building a Better Syrian Opposition Army," Released this month, gives insight into what U.S. President Barack Obama's long-term game plan could be in regards to Syria and the Islamic State. Ref. Source 1
US Still Searching for Credible Allies in Syria:
The CIA has secretly trained and is paying more than 1,000 moderates to help achieve the administration's stated objective of overthrowing Syrian president Bashar Assad, U.S. Officials have said. Ref. Source 8
Syrians to be trained to defend territory, not take ground from jihadists, officials say:
Although moderate Syrian fighters are deemed essential to defeating the Islamic State under the Obama administration's strategy, officials do not believe the newly assembled units will be capable of capturing key towns from militants without the help of forward-deployed U.S. Combat teams. Ref. Source 7
Corker: US military was poised to launch 10-hour attack on Syria:
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Wednesday that the U.S. Military was poised to launch a "Very targeted, very brief" Operation against the Syrian government for allegedly, using chemical weapons before President Obama called off the attack at the last minute. Ref. Source 6
McCain & other top officials accused of illegally visiting Syria:
Several senior US and French officials, including US Senator John McCain, entered Syria illegally - without proper visas - on separate occasions, thus violating the country's sovereignty, Syria said in a complaint submitted to the United Nations. Ref. Source 2
The U.S. Will send about 400 troops to train the moderate Syrian opposition, defense officials confirmed Thursday night. The training, being done as part of a campaign against Islamic State militants, is expected to begin in early spring, and the trainers will work out of sites in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, said Cmdr. Elissa Smith, a Defense Department spokeswoman. Ref. USAToday