John Kerry downplays possibility of Syrian rebel blowback

John Kerry downplays possibility of Syrian rebel blowback

Kerry downplays the possibility of blowback in Syria.

This article originally appeared in The State Column

In testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry pushed back against the fear that substantial numbers of the Syrian rebels might be extremists affiliated with terrorist organizations.

“I just don’t agree that a majority are al-Qaeda and the bad guys. That’s not true.”

Kerry was also firm in tying the use of chemical weapons back to the Assad regime, saying that “we can tell you beyond any reasonable doubt that our evidence proves” the Syrian president’s government was directly involved in last month’s attack.

Despite the fact that much of this evidence appears to remain classified, Kerry was insistent that the administration’s case was ironclad. He also broadened the underlying rationale for action, telling the committee members that it is not a question of a “red line” President Obama drew, but rather the universally accepted norm against the use of chemical weapons that has stood since the first world war.

“This debate is about the world’s red line,” he said. “It’s about humanity’s red line. And it’s a red line that anyone with a conscience ought to draw.”

He went further, noting that it was “also about Congress’ own red line,” since it had committed the country to the Chemical Weapons Convention that bans their use.

But much of the concern now has to do with uncertainty over the makeup of the rebel groups as well as skepticism after an earlier announced policy of arming those rebels has yet to materialize.

On the question of rebel affiliations, Kerry said “maybe 15% to 25%” could possibly be considered to be associated with hostile groups.

But that claim drew sharp criticism from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called Kerry’s statement “very unpleasant and surprising for me.” Relations with Russia have become very strained over the summer, predominantly because of its government’s decision to grant fugitive leaker Edward Snowden limited asylum.

“We talk to them [Americans], and we assume they are decent people,” Putin also said, “but he [Kerry] is lying and he knows that he is lying. This is sad.”

National Security Council spokesman Ben Rhodes responded by saying that “we certainly would side with Secretary Kerry in that back-and-forth.”

The hearing did underscore how much uncertainty still remains.

“This is an imperfect situation,” Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said. “There are no good options here. This is complicated. There is no clarity.”

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