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Chenelle Agnew October 6, 2012

Class: Global History Period: 1

ByROBERT F. WORTH

Published: October 6, 2012

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

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia For months, Saudi Arabia andQatarhave been funneling money

and small arms toSyrias 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 wars 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 cant stop the Syrian regimes military with AKs, saidKhalid 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.

Saudi officials here said the United States was not barring them from providing shoulder-

fired missiles, but warning about the risks. The Saudis and Qataris said they hoped to

convince their allies that those risks could be overcome. We are looking at ways to put in

place practices to prevent this type of weapon from falling into the wrong hands, one Arab

official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with diplomatic protocol.

American support for such weapons transfers is unlikely to materialize any time soon. The

Obama administration has made clear that it has no desire to deepen its efforts, mostly

providing logistical support for the rebels.

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Administration officials would not comment on what they are telling their Persian Gulf

allies about arming the rebels. We are doing what we feel is appropriate to help the

unarmed opposition to be more effective and working closely with the opposition to prepare

for a transition, the State Department said in response to a question on the subject.

Summary:

This article is mainly about the physical dialogue between Syria and Saudi

Arabia. This conflict has aroused because of Saudi Arabias refusal of giving Syria heavy

weapons. Arabias fear is that if they give Syria heavy weapons then Syria may turn the

tables and retaliate against them with the weapons that were given to them. They are

also discouraged because they got the idea that the weapons may end up in the hands of

terrorists. Saudi Arabia is trying to keep their government and political systems under

ropes until they figure out a brighter solution.

This article demonstrates the political system, power and government in Syria. It

shows the huge epidemic they are going through at the moment and the risk that they

will possibly have to take. It relates to politics in the sense of its feud between Syria and

Saudi Arabia. It relates to power when they talk about the opponents (Syria) potentially

bringing down the government. And lastly it follows up on government issues because of

the decisions that have to be made by them and the trouble that can be heading their

way if its not the right decision made.

The overall point that the author is trying to make is that the needs of other

places cannot always be your lands priority. Then when they do get involved you are at

risk of getting retaliated against. For example is Saudi Arabia gives Syria the heavy

weapons then they may have their government easily slipped from underneath them.

Potentially, in the future Saudi Arabia may be pulled into an unintended war over

resources. For now Saudi Arabia just needs to work closely to their opponents to

maintain good relationship.