Public Opposes Arming Syrian Rebels

A few days ago, the Obama administration announced they were going to start shipping arms to the rebels in Syria. This marks a significant change in policy. Prior to this, the only U.S. aid going to the rebels was non-lethal aid (such as medical supplies). And even this may not be enough for some of the hawks in Congress, who would like to see at least some military intervention in that country (such as the establishment of a "no-fly" zone).

But two new polls show that both the Obama administration and the congressional hawks are out-of-step with want the American public wants. The polls are from the Pew Research Center (taken between June 12th and 16th of 1,512 adults -- with a 2.9 point margin of error), and the Gallup Poll (taken on June 15th & 16th of 1,015 adults with a 4 point margin of error). Both polls show that a majority of the American public opposes supplying arms to the Syrian rebels. Here are the complete numbers from the polls, with approval being the first number given (and disapproval being the number in parentheses -- and in charts above):

PEW CENTER SURVEY
General public...............20% (70%)
Republicans...............20% (71%)
Independents...............18% (74%)
Democrats...............25% (66%)

GALLUP POLL
General public...............37% (54%)
Republicans...............29% (63%)
Independents...............33% (60%)
Democrats...............51% (42%)

Note that there is a difference between the two polls --  and that difference is primarily among Democrats. Twice as many Democrats told Gallup they supported arming the rebels as told that to Pew. Why the difference? I believe the difference lays in when the polls were taken. At least half of the Pew poll was taken before President Obama announced the change in policy, while all of the Gallup poll was taken after that announcement had been made.

It looks to me like a significant group of die-hard Democrats, after the president announced the arming of the rebels, decided they must support the president's decision (even though many of them had serious reservations). I find that rather pathetic. I supported President Obama (and worked for him) in both of the last two presidential elections. But I cannot support his involving this country even deeper into the Syrian civil war by arming the rebels. It is just one more step toward a new war for this country.

I don't believe we have any friends in the Syrian civil war -- neither the government (which is a truly brutal regime) or the rebels (who are muslim fundamentalists, and natural enemies of the U.S. and its policies). Some would say that the enemy of our enemy is our friend, but that doesn't apply in this case. No matter who wins that civil war, we are not going to see Syria become a U.S. ally.

The Obama administration has made a serious mistake in arming the Syrian rebels. I just hope now that Obama doesn't let himself get bullied by the right in Congress into involving us deeper into the conflict -- by using American military power. The last thing we need is a new war -- a war that cannot possibly benefit this country.