This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-conflict-british-general-behind-scrapped-plan-to-train-rebel-army-that-would-take-on-assad-report-claims-9583133.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Syria conflict: British general behind scrapped plan to train rebel army to take on Assad, report claims | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A secret plan to train a 100,000-strong rebel army to wage war on Syria's President Bashar Assad was drawn up by a leading British general, according to a report. | A secret plan to train a 100,000-strong rebel army to wage war on Syria's President Bashar Assad was drawn up by a leading British general, according to a report. |
The idea - developed two years ago by Lord Richards, who was then Chief of the Defence Staff - was considered by David Cameron and the National Security Council but they ultimately decided against carrying it out. | The idea - developed two years ago by Lord Richards, who was then Chief of the Defence Staff - was considered by David Cameron and the National Security Council but they ultimately decided against carrying it out. |
The plan, revealed on the BBC's Newsnight programme, called for Syrian rebels to be removed from their home country, put through a vetting process, given training and equipment by an international coalition and then sent back after a year. | The plan, revealed on the BBC's Newsnight programme, called for Syrian rebels to be removed from their home country, put through a vetting process, given training and equipment by an international coalition and then sent back after a year. |
They would have invaded Syria with air cover provided by the West and allies in the region in a “shock and awe” campaign modelled on the 2003 invasion of Iraq. | They would have invaded Syria with air cover provided by the West and allies in the region in a “shock and awe” campaign modelled on the 2003 invasion of Iraq. |
The Government did not respond to Newsnight when it was asked to comment. | The Government did not respond to Newsnight when it was asked to comment. |
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have become refugees during the three-year civil war, which has seen chemical weapons used by the Assad regime, according to the rebels and others. | Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have become refugees during the three-year civil war, which has seen chemical weapons used by the Assad regime, according to the rebels and others. |
Monzer Akbik, spokesman for the Syrian National Coalition, an opposition alliance, said: “The international community did not intervene to prevent those crimes and at the same time did not actively support the moderate elements on the ground. | Monzer Akbik, spokesman for the Syrian National Coalition, an opposition alliance, said: “The international community did not intervene to prevent those crimes and at the same time did not actively support the moderate elements on the ground. |
”A huge opportunity was missed and that opportunity could have saved tens of thousands of lives actually and could have saved also a huge humanitarian catastrophe.“ | ”A huge opportunity was missed and that opportunity could have saved tens of thousands of lives actually and could have saved also a huge humanitarian catastrophe.“ |
Professor Michael Clarke, of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said the chance had been missed to train ”an anti-Assad force that would have real influence in Syria when he is removed, as he will be“. | Professor Michael Clarke, of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said the chance had been missed to train ”an anti-Assad force that would have real influence in Syria when he is removed, as he will be“. |
”I think there was an opportunity two or three years ago to have become involved in a reasonably positive way, but it was dangerous and swimming against the broader tide of history … and the costs and the uncertainties were very high.“ | ”I think there was an opportunity two or three years ago to have become involved in a reasonably positive way, but it was dangerous and swimming against the broader tide of history … and the costs and the uncertainties were very high.“ |
He added there was little that could now be done. ”There are no good options over Syria. It is a slow-motion road accident,“ he said. | He added there was little that could now be done. ”There are no good options over Syria. It is a slow-motion road accident,“ he said. |
Extreme Islamist militants have gained strength within the rebel force, partly because they are well equipped using funds sent from like-minded people and groups in the Middle East. Isis recently moved into Iraq, taking significant territory. | Extreme Islamist militants have gained strength within the rebel force, partly because they are well equipped using funds sent from like-minded people and groups in the Middle East. Isis recently moved into Iraq, taking significant territory. |