In February 2012 NSC staffer [[Jake Sullivan]] informed [[Hillary Clinton]] that "Al Qaeda is on our side" in the plot to take down Syrian leader [[Bashar al Assad]]. ''Reuters'' reported on August 1, 2012 that [[Barack Obama]] signed a [[Presidential Finding]] earlier that same year authorizing transfer of captured weapons from Libya to groups in Syria that later became known as the Islamic State.<ref name=reuters1aug2012>Mark Hosenball, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-obama-order/obama-authorizes-secret-support-for-syrian-rebels-idUSBRE8701OK20120802 Obama authorizes secret support for Syrian rebels], ''Reuters'', August 1, 2012. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170216061621/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/obama-secret-syria-order_n_1730712.html]. | In February 2012 NSC staffer [[Jake Sullivan]] informed [[Hillary Clinton]] that "Al Qaeda is on our side" in the plot to take down Syrian leader [[Bashar al Assad]]. ''Reuters'' reported on August 1, 2012 that [[Barack Obama]] signed a [[Presidential Finding]] earlier that same year authorizing transfer of captured weapons from Libya to groups in Syria that later became known as the Islamic State.<ref name=reuters1aug2012>Mark Hosenball, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-obama-order/obama-authorizes-secret-support-for-syrian-rebels-idUSBRE8701OK20120802 Obama authorizes secret support for Syrian rebels], ''Reuters'', August 1, 2012. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170216061621/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/obama-secret-syria-order_n_1730712.html]. |