President Obama’s national security adviser said Friday it will take “many months” before the U.S. can arm and train Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State terrorist group.
“This is not going to happen overnight,” Susan E. Rice told reporters at the White House. “We will move as fast as we reasonably can.”
Congress authorized $500 million Thursday at the request of the president to arm and train the Syrian opposition to carry out a ground war against the militants, who control a wide swath of Syria and Iraq. The Syrian rebels are a key part of the president’s strategy to defeat the Islamic State, with the U.S. gearing up to conduct airstrikes against the terrorists in Syria.
Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide bases for training, but there are questions about the rebels’ ability, with only about 5,000 fighters available. The Islamic State is estimated to have as many as 31,000 fighters.
Ms. Rice said the U.S. is “prepared to go ahead” with airstrikes in Syria but would not reveal a timetable.
“When and how we choose to do that will be an operational decision,” she said.
Mr. Obama received a briefing on the expanded air campaign Wednesday by his military chiefs at U.S. Central Command in Tampa.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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