US Blatantly Meddling in Syrian Affairs: We Should Arm the Opposition

US Republican Presidential candidates lent their support to the idea of arming the Syrian opposition in its fight to topple the Bahsar al-Assad regime. 

THe US candidates made thier remarks during a primary election debate in the US State of Arizona, the last one scheduled before voters head to the polls in Michigan and Arizona on February 28 and Super Tuesday on March 6.

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and John Mccain have publically backed the idea of teaming up with the rebels in Syria in order to topple the Assad regime. In fact, Gingrich revealed that US allies in the region already covertly are helping to "destroy" the Assad regime.

Romney: Support for anti-Assad forces needed

Speaking at a CNN debate in Mesa, Arizona, Romney said the United States needed to team up with allies to help the rebels.
"We need to work with Saudi Arabia and with Turkey to say, 'You guys provide the kind of weaponry that's needed to help the rebels inside Syria,'" the former Massachusetts governor said.

The Republican seen most likely to face US President Barack Obama in November's presidential election, Romney said such support was needed to turn Syria away from Iran claiming that Tehran was possibly trying to develop nuclear weapons.
"If we can turn Syria and Lebanon away from Iran, we finally have the capacity to get Iran to pull back," Romney said. 

Gingrich: US allies already covertly helping to destroy Assad regime

Speaking at the debate, Gingrich said that US allies - which he did not name - were covertly helping destroy the Assad regime and that there were weapons available in the region to arm the opposition.
"There are plenty of Arab-speaking groups that would be quite happy. There are lots of weapons available in the Middle East," he said, taking a swipe at the Obama administration's policy on Syria.

"This is an administration which, as long as you're America's enemy, you're safe. You know, the only people you've got to worry about is if you're an American ally."

Mccain: All Options on Table to Help Syrian Opposition

US Republican Senator John McCain has once again urged Washington to consider all options when it comes to helping the opposition in Syria.
Speaking at a Wednesday press conference in Tripoli, Libya, McCain reiterated that the anti-Damascus forces in Syria should be given weapons to confront forces of President Bashar al-Assad's government. 

"We should consider every option ranging from sanctuaries to seeing that weapons are brought to the hands of those who are resisting Assad," he said, also calling for technical and medical help for the opposition.
The US politician made the call during his visit to the Libyan capital, where he met with the head of the Libyan National Transitional Council Mustafa Abdel Jalil.
McCain made a similar plea on a visit to al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Monday. "There are ways to get weapons to people who are fighting against this kind of oppression, we showed that in Libya," McCain told reporters.

He, however, made it clear that he was not calling for direct military help from Washington, explaining that the US government could equip the Syrian opposition through "third-world countries" and the Arab League.

Meanwhile, the United States has suggested it will consider military assistance to armed groups fighting the Syrian government in an effort to put pressure on Assad to give up power.
"If we can't get Assad to yield to the pressure that we are all bringing to bear, we may have to consider additional measures," said US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

He reiterated that they are blocking attempts to end months of unrest in the country and preventing it from treading the path of reforms. the unrest had started since march 2011.