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Actually, Louis, it is not *exactly* a duplicate posting. The take outs from the article was completely different. The second one is important. I've largely argued this same point...about the only one I've ever commented on regarding Syria at all, that regime change was never really part of the US agenda. It was some, but that was more wishful thinking on part of the U.S. I don't hold the position that the U.S. *supports* Assad, which is I know is popular among some on the left, but at least here, with regards to the actual 'support' the U.S. gave the FSA, it is absolutely correct. Perhaps the only exception was the 2013 or 2014 incident where the Saudis or Qataris supplied TOW II anti-tank missiles. Exactly 18 of them. And took out 18 Russian made T-72 and T-90 tanks. And that was that. Even more directly, and well before the Russians intervened with men and machines, the US could of taken out the Syrian fixed and rotary winged air force in 4 hours flat. Most of it's armor in 4 days. So the idea that the US was interested in regime change my questions is: why didn't they? I was challenged on this several time. Youtube video links were provided by pro-Assadists to me that showed several incidents of MANPADS being used. Since I'm somewhat educated on this from the technology POV, I replied that this was absolutely correct. But they were *Russian* made anti-aircraft missiles that were seized from Syrian troops or brought over by deserters from the army, not US supplied Stingers. David Walters _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com