July 2, 2014 | Quote
Rand Paul Under Fire for Claim Obama Admin ‘Allied’ With ISIL
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The more recent comment on ISIL “betrays a fundamental confusion as to the reality of the situation in Syria on the one hand, but also as to the extent and nature of U.S. involvement,” said Tony Badran, a Syria expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
Badran and others outlined multiple factual inaccuracies in the remarks.
“For one, the notion that we’ve been helping ISIS is absurd because in reality for the longest time the administration’s failed policy used ISIS as a pretext for not helping any of the rebels because it would supposedly fall into the hands of ISIS,” Badran explained.
The White House’s latest effort to send lethal aid to certain Syrian rebel groups is meant to combat ISIL’s presence in the country, Badran said.
“On the other hand, now the administration has made a declaration that it will seek funding from Congress to supposedly support vetted Syrian rebels, but that support is actually premised on the rebels fighting ISIS,” he said. “So even in terms of describing reality in Syria and U.S. policy, Sen. Paul has the facts wrong on both counts.”
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