Changes

The failure of the quick removal of Assad, along with Obama's complete disengagement of US troops from Iraq earlier, led to the unanticipated rise of the Islamic State in 2014, which further highlighted the failure of the Obama-Clinton foreign policy, and weakened Hillary's 2016 prospects.

The failure of the quick removal of Assad, along with Obama's complete disengagement of US troops from Iraq earlier, led to the unanticipated rise of the Islamic State in 2014, which further highlighted the failure of the Obama-Clinton foreign policy, and weakened Hillary's 2016 prospects.

{{Anchor|Al-Tanf}}

{{Anchor|Al-Tanf}}

''Reuters'' reported on March 11, 2011 ‘a large shipment of weapons and explosives and night-vision goggles … in a truck coming from Iraq’ carrying 'dozens of grenades and pistols as well as rifles and ammunition belts’ was seized at '''al-Waleed''' (known in Syria as '''al-Tanf''') southern bordering crossing, some 400 west of Baghdad. The Syrian Government News Agency (SANA) said the weapons were intended ‘for use in actions that affect Syria’s internal security and spread unrest and chaos.’ The driver said the weapons had been loaded in [[Baghdad]] and he was to be paid $5,000 to deliver them to Syria.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-iraq-idUSTRE72A3MI20110311 Syria says seizes weapons smuggled from Iraq], Mar 11, 2011</ref>

''Reuters'' reported on March 11, 2011 ‘a large shipment of weapons and explosives and night-vision goggles … in a truck coming from Iraq’ carrying 'dozens of grenades and pistols as well as rifles and ammunition belts’ was seized at '''al-Waleed''' (known in Syria as '''[[al-Tanf]]''') southern bordering crossing, some 400 west of Baghdad. The Syrian Government News Agency (SANA) said the weapons were intended ‘for use in actions that affect Syria’s internal security and spread unrest and chaos.’ The driver said the weapons had been loaded in [[Baghdad]] and he was to be paid $5,000 to deliver them to Syria.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-iraq-idUSTRE72A3MI20110311 Syria says seizes weapons smuggled from Iraq], Mar 11, 2011</ref>

On March 18 armed protesters in Daraa open fired on regime security forces.<ref>[http://www.handsoffsyriasydney.com/tag/tim-anderson-hands-off-syria%3Fprint%3Dpdf-page&ved=0ahUKEwiYxtTe5ILUAhXqxFQKHa_9CuEQFgiQATAV&usg=AFQjCNH9o86l1MN0vnd-zHPh1oDfAyqFpA&sig2=oDLtUoswAqdmZaGZGoLyDw]</ref> Syrian security forces returned fire.<ref>http://www.trans-int.com/wordpress/index.php/2014/04/14/father-frans-on-the-syrian-rebellion-the-protestors-shot-first/</ref> What began as a popular movement for greater freedom and democracy was over by April 2011. The continuing war was fueled and funded by outside sources, and foreign fighters entering Syria from Turkey and Northern Iraq. The fighters were principally equipped and funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, although the CIA by June 2011, per Obama's Presidential finding, was supplying jihadist elements with weapons from captured Libyan stockpiles. Airial transport originated in Benghazi and was flown to Incirlik, Turkey. Sea transport originated in Derna, Libya to the Turkish port of Iskenderun, 35 miles from the Syrian border.<ref>http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/5897</ref>

On March 18 armed protesters in Daraa open fired on regime security forces.<ref>[http://www.handsoffsyriasydney.com/tag/tim-anderson-hands-off-syria%3Fprint%3Dpdf-page&ved=0ahUKEwiYxtTe5ILUAhXqxFQKHa_9CuEQFgiQATAV&usg=AFQjCNH9o86l1MN0vnd-zHPh1oDfAyqFpA&sig2=oDLtUoswAqdmZaGZGoLyDw]</ref> Syrian security forces returned fire.<ref>http://www.trans-int.com/wordpress/index.php/2014/04/14/father-frans-on-the-syrian-rebellion-the-protestors-shot-first/</ref> What began as a popular movement for greater freedom and democracy was over by April 2011. The continuing war was fueled and funded by outside sources, and foreign fighters entering Syria from Turkey and Northern Iraq. The fighters were principally equipped and funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, although the CIA by June 2011, per Obama's Presidential finding, was supplying jihadist elements with weapons from captured Libyan stockpiles. Airial transport originated in Benghazi and was flown to Incirlik, Turkey. Sea transport originated in Derna, Libya to the Turkish port of Iskenderun, 35 miles from the Syrian border.<ref>http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/5897</ref>