It’s bad enough that $500 million was wasted on this boondoggle, with Republican Congressional approval. It’s bad enough that this lavishly funded program could only attract fifty “moderates” willing to be trained to fight the Islamic State. But now those fifty have compounded the ludicrousness of this entire endeavor by vanishing in Syria. Did they turn over their “four wheel drive pickup trucks” to the Islamic State and join its ranks? Possibly. Did they get waylaid by Islamic State jihadis who killed them and seized their fancy U.S.-funded pickups? Another possibility. Did they disappear to some relatively peaceful place, hoping to enjoy their American largesse unmolested there? Yet another possibility.
Whatever happened to them, one thing is certain: the U.S. will not end funding for this ridiculous program. If anything, Congress will pour even more taxpayer dollars into it.
“Turkey vows to strike anyone killing civilians in planned free zone,” by Roy Gutman and Duygu Guvenc, McClatchy, July 27, 2015 (thanks to Patrick Poole):
…The dispute over aims has made it almost impossible for the U.S. and other allies to recruit young Syrians under the $500 million U.S. “train and equip” program. Hundreds of recruits reportedly walked off when they were asked to commit to fight only the Islamic State and not the Assad regime.
The first graduates of the course in Turkey, about 50 recruits, rolled into Syria two weeks ago in four wheel drive pickup trucks. But they haven’t been heard from since.
The U.S. goal was to train at least 5,000 fighters against the Islamic State this year alone….
Don McKellar says
If all aid and expenditure towards the Islamic world in all forms were ended now, in all forms, imagine the incredible billions that could be spent on infrastructure rebuilding and employment in America? You’d actually have something to show and be proud of. Or if were spent on taking care of America’s other problems like illegal immigration. Or to work towards alternative energy production technology. Or any number of things — which would be an investment in the future. Every single damn penny spent on moslems around the world is money thrown into a bottomless black pit. Every single damn penny. What’s done one day, is undone the next. That’s what all of history and every single piece of evidence shows us conclusively.
Don McKellar says
Imagine if all that American taxpayer money thrown away on moslems around the world were invested in NASA? Or in supporting private space company competition? Or both? Imagine all that could have been accomplished by now. How much has been thrown away since Sept 11, 2001? A trillion? Two trillion? What’s the figure? Imagine how much could have been done with that money. We could be on Mars right now. A colony on the Moon. And all that scientific advancement that trickles down to consumers from such endeavors. Achieving amazing things. But, instead, look were we are — insanity like spending 500 MILLION DOLLARS on 50 moslem “moderates” who vanish.
mortimer says
It seems being associated with the US is the kiss of death for Bronze Age warriors.
Lia says
You’re touching on a matter I’d like to know more about. We hear (here, far away, outside the USA) that the USA’s debt is now $8 trillion. Where does all the money come from that flows in an unending stream from the USA? $500 million to train 50 people? Think if the USA stopped funding the EU, sold/rented out their green tower at realistic rates, stopped funding the muslims & anti-Israel NGOs, stopped funding Mr & Mrs Obama’s very expensive holidays, of the amount of money that becomes available for use inside the USA …
quotha raven says
Hmmm. In the photo accompanying this article I see “USAID” marked on the tent these savages are hanging out in…Wonder whether the guns and maybe the tea, too, are gifts from us. Cheers! Quotha R
quotha raven says
…And Toyotas and Land Rovers, maybe helicopters? Tanks? Maybe WMD? I wouldn’t put anything past this admin. Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation…
mortimer says
“Our Bronze Age barbarians are more politically correct than YOUR Bronze Age barbarians!”
That is what the US government is saying. No doubt, the supposed ‘moderate’ opposition is considered ‘moderate’ on the basis of its approval by Saudi Arabia, Obama’s master.
Lia says
and Mrs Clinton’s, or not?
Angemon says
They’re probably dressed in orange and lining up to participate on the next IS music-video “I fought the ummah, and the ummah won” – assuming they can find a replacement for “Jihadi John”, who apparently high-tailed out of there. How hard can it be to find a devout cutthroat jihadi willing to cutthroats on video?
Lioness says
Not hard at all, any 10-year old boy raised by proper Islamic parents is willing and able to do a good head-cutting job.
duh_swami says
The sensible say, ‘Never underestimate your enemy’…The Rasool Obama doctrine says, ‘Always underestimate your enemy’…What can go wrong with that?
It’s a good thing we have a man with super intelligence, and wisdom guiding us. His intelligence level is so high, no one can figure out what it is. ‘Always underestimate your enemy’ is a brilliant strategy that only someone with high wisdom could conceive of. Of course, Rasool got a little help from his friends, Valarie Jarrett and Marie Harf…He always does…
Kepha says
And the only secret America can keep is the academic record of its supposedly “most intelligent POTUS ever”. [Bronx Cheer].
Veracious_one says
moderate Muslims? bwahahahahahahaa
pongidae rex says
The West really is governed by clowns. Except it is not funny.
Tim says
Only 50?
Some years ago 1000 trained soldiers who should fight ISlamists in Somalia run away on there way to the front…
mccode says
Good money down a rat hole.
Sam says
The Obama Administration has no clue what the hell they are doing. Not a penny or American soldier should be sacrificed in Muslim countries under this idiot called president Obama.
Idiots are sending money to Turkey and the Turks are bombing the Kurds their enemy. Turks are also helping ISIS I am sure under the table instead of fighting them. It is crazy over there (and here too) we should not engage in any way with any Muslim country under Obama. The traitor has a deal with Iran and what the hell is the benefit to any American giving money to these crazy Mullahs, my tax dollars. This is almost surreal.
quotha raven says
To Sam – ” This is almost surreal.”
Almost? Cheers! Quotha
Ray Lanfear says
When will we stand up to Iran and Islam.? Their Government has threatened our lives. The Quran says to kill all Jews, Christians and infidels. They are making good on their promise in Europe. Eliminating all Christians and Jews and infidels by beheading them or forcing them out. So I for one take the threat personal, how about you? Get informed on the threat of Islam now, read Ayaan Hirshi Ali, new book “Heretic” for the truth. She was a former Muslim and has won every single debate on whether or not Islam is a religion of peace. It is not. They will never, never adapt to our freedom, culture and customs, but rather want to force Islam and Sharia upon the World. Forget about political correctness, stand up and take a stand America. 3600 Mosques in America with many of them preaching hate and violence by the Imans is 3600 too many in my book. Anwar Alawaki was an Inman from Virginia that fooled America for years, he was a member of Al Quaeda and finally was killed by a USA drone. How many more “Anwars” are there at the Mosques, just one is far too many.
Carlos Danger says
Who is actually supposedly running this circle jerk of a training program?
quotha raven says
“Who is actually supposedly running this circle jerk of a training program?”
Carlos, Dear! It is not a circle; it’s an Oval. And it’s not a jerk (although a case could be made for that); it’s an Office! Capeesh? Cheers! Quotha R
gravenimage says
Obama’s 50 “moderates” trained in $500 million program to fight the Islamic State have disappeared in Syria
……………………….
Once again, the *best case scenario* is that these “moderates” have simply pocketed our largesse. The more likely scenario is that one way or another our vehicles and weaponry—and quite possible the training these men received—are now in service to our worst enemies.
Anabelle says
Moderates didn’t pocket it, the Military Industrial Complex did. They are the only ones making money on this shit show. Them and Erdogan of Turkey off the stolen and looted items from Syrian /Iraqis homes, businesses and holy sites. Not to mention all their stolen oil.
And those so called Moderates?
They were not even Syrian, they were largely Turkmen, from North of Syria that have one alligence and that is to Turkey. They were the first in Syrian spring to protest and create riots which were later exploited by world wide islamists as “Syria is unfair to Sunnis” etc.
RG says
Yeah, it’s hilarious, until it ain’t no more…. I’m almost ashamed to call myself American….
Donovan Nuera says
To put this into an even more-embarrassing perspective; the number of “recruits” we blew $500,000,000.00 on was fewer than an average-sized U.S. high school varsity football team……(who now have gone to join the “J.V.” team with our weapons, training, and tactics…..
(it is time to make these Pentagon geniuses do some gassers* and push-ups until they puke!) [*a gasser was the term used by our late venerable 30-year season coach to denote a sprint from sideline to sideline and back a second time for every point our team allowed in the previous game…>200 yards…and after a full afternoon practice)
Baucent says
All that lovely kit handed to the trainees would have been sold on the black market within hours of them crossing into Syria. Huge waste of money, they should be giving it to the Kurds instead of another “phantom army” who have no stomach for a fight.
ninetyninepct says
obama is not only the worst, incompetent and incapable president in history, he is likely the worst American that ever lived. We could easily include all his staff and various heads of Government and military departments in that description. Even his Secret Service staff can be included, protecting and defending a person who seems so dedicated to damaging America and the democratic world. Obama is dangerous.
James Foard says
Where have all the moderates gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the moderates gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the moderates gone?
Gone to Jihad everyone!
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever know?