Senior Pentagon officials say that even if Congress approves a measure authorizing the U.S. military to train Syrian rebels battling the Islamic State it could be well into next year before those fighters reach the battlefield.
Planners need to develop a training program and locate a facility in Saudi Arabia at which to host the effort, officials said, while at the same time the U.S. intelligence community will need to thoroughly vet the roughly 5,000 Free Syrian Army rebels selected to participate.
Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said the Pentagon does not expect the training to begin until spring.
“We anticipate that initial trainees could complete training roughly six to eight months after authorization and funding,” he said. “We are considering ways to expedite this timeline. This is a long-term investment that will require some time on the front end for infrastructure, planning and logistics.”
The news came as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey briefed a Senate panel on U.S. policy toward Iraq and Syria and answered questions about the threat associated with Islamic State militants. Congress is expected to vote this week on whether to authorize the $500 million training plan.
Mr. Hagel said a rigorous vetting process would be critical to the success of the program. He said Pentagon officials intend to work closely with the State Department, the intelligence community and partners in the region to screen and vet the Syrian rebels before training and equipping them.
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“We will monitor them closely to ensure that weapons do not fall into the hands of radical elements of the opposition, [the Islamic State], the Syrian regime and other extremist groups,” he said.
President Obama in June first called for the U.S. investment in training moderate Syrian rebel forces, but the request stalled amid questions from lawmakers in Congress about the weapons, the level of assistance and the legal authority involved.
Mr. Obama renewed his call during an address to the nation Wednesday in which he advocated for a “steady, relentless effort” to counter the increasingly urgent threat posed by the Islamic State group.
The Los Angeles Times reported in June that CIA operatives have been training and equipping small numbers of rebels in groups of about 20 to 45 at a time at a base in Jordan.
Military planners are now “actively working” on refining the details of the Pentagon’s plan to sharpen the combat skills of larger numbers of rebels while providing them with access to assault rifles and protective gear, Pentagon officials said. In addition to the training, the U.S. military will also have to pay for the basic accommodations of the trainees.
Officials said they want to exercise caution while developing the training plan and avoid making hasty decisions.
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“It’s more important to get this right than to get it fast,” one official said. “We’re talking about training and equipping the right people. … That is a critically important component of the strategy we’re pursuing, and we want to get this right.”
• Maggie Ybarra can be reached at mybarra@washingtontimes.com.
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