While Congress has rejected any kind of armed intervention in Syria, it just
authorized the financing of a secret CIA program, signed by president Obama in the
beginning of June.

The joint chief of staff, general Martin Dempsey, had estimated the support
(formation and equipment) of the ’’rebels’’ from Jordan to about 500 million dollars
per year, and the creation of a no-fly zone to 1 billion dollars per month.

The CIA’s program maintains it’s principle of support to the ’’rebels’’ from Jordan, and includes
secret operations in Syria. For the United-States, it’s mainly about controlling the weapon
flow, coming from the Golf (particularly SAM’s that could also be used against the Israeli
aviation) and guarantying their leadership by reducing jihadist presence (that is to say, by
helping the Free Syrian Army to eliminate a section of the Al-Nosra Front). However, this
program of which we can’t be sure of the exact extent, does not have purpose to alter the
balance of power between ’’rebels’’ and loyalists.

« Congressional panels approve arms aid to Syrian opposition », Karen DeYoung, The
Washington Post, July 23rd 2013.

Translation
Alizée Ville