Is 'The Syrian Support Group' Supplying Arms to the Rebels ?, page 1

There has been some controversy about the U.S. actually sending military aid to the Syrian rebels.

Obama has made statements to the support of such actions for some time now.

Congress has had bills and what not, but has anything actually passed and been 'put in service' ?

With all we've been hearing about the Syrian Rebels and who is funding them against Assad, we need to look at a group that's somehow been 'certified' by the U.S. Government right here at home !!

It seems the Syrian Support Group has been granted some kind of 'special' license to circumvent sanctions imposed against Syria !!

It also seems that this 'special' group may be collecting 'donations' and distributing money for armaments.

They also claim to be sending regular humanitarian aid as well [ cover up ? ]

And, it seems they are 'allowed' to take donations from anybody anywhere including 'individuals' and 'corporations'.

Hmmm.

from their website:
( OFAC = U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control )
( FSA = Free Syrian Army )

Q.2. What does the OFAC License allow?

The License gives SSG the ability to legally raise funds and provide certain logistical, communications and other services to the FSA. U.S. citizens are generally prohibited under U.S. sanctions on Syria from providing financial or material support to individuals or organizations within Syria absent a license from OFAC. Learn more
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Q.10. Can only individuals donate? What about corporations or other entities? Can non-U.S. citizens support the FSA through the SSG?

As a U.S. nonprofit organization, both U.S. and non-U.S. individuals and entities (whether corporations or other NGO’s) can make charitable contributions to the SSG in support of the FSA.
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Q.12. Will the SSG provide detailed reports to donors of how the funds were spent and to whom?

Such information will remain confidential – even from donors – in order to protect the safety of the individuals involved and not risk the possible disclosure of any information that may be used by the criminal Assad regime against the FSA or its supporters. However, the License does require that the SSG provide periodic reports to the State Department.
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more FAQ's

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Story from Aug 2012;

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration quietly has cleared the way for U.S. residents to buy weapons for the rebels who are fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, granting a Washington-based advocacy group a rare license to collect money for arms and other equipment.

The license, which the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued last month without fanfare, gives the nonprofit Syrian Support Group the authority to take in money and pass it directly to armed insurgents. Previously, U.S. entities’ assistance to Syria was limited to humanitarian and educational programs.

Brian Sayers, an American who once served as a NATO political officer and is now the Syrian Support Group’s Washington lobbyist, said the new license would ease the fears of many prospective donors that helping the rebels buy guns would run afoul of U.S. law. “A lot of donors have been reluctant,” he said.

U.S. eases arms purchases for Syrian rebels

WHO are these guys ?

edit on Sep-01-2013 by xuenchen because: