BtH: On Supporting Rebel Groups
The decision to provide support to rebel groups in war-torn countries like Syria is not one to be taken lightly, said Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies professor Robert Loftis.
“This is not a new challenge. This is an issue we’ve faced in the past and will face in the future,” said Loftis. “But if we are not prepared to answer tough questions, we should wait to make our decision.”
The remarks came during a Nov. 20 event, “Beyond the Headlines (BtH) @Pardee School: Rebel Groups – Should We Support Them? When? How?” Loftis was joined by BU Political Science assistant professor Rosella Cappella and former Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations Ambassador Rick Barton.
In his remarks, Loftis outlined a series of questions policymakers should answer before considering military or civilian intervention in destabilized regions.
“The first question to ask is why should we go? We can say it’s not our fight, or it’s a potential quagmire,” Loftis said. “We can also ask, what happens if we do intervene? Are the interest of us or our allies truly at stake, or are we responding to signs of a humanitarian disaster for emotional reasons?”
Of further concern, said Cappella, is the cost of intervention.
“We need to expand in our minds what we mean by cost,” Cappella said. “We are in a very tight budget environment with a stymied Congress. We can’t think of just the initial budgetary outlay, but what choosing to intervene will mean for our readiness capabilities in other parts of the world.”
Barton told a story of a friend from Washington, D. C. to illustrate the possibility of military aid being used against U. S. forces.
“My friend and I play tennis twice a week, and his son is a Marine pilot in Afghanistan,” Barton said. “He would tell me he was afraid that, if we gave surface-to-air missiles to the Syrian opposition, they would end up being eventually used in Afghanistan and his son would be a victim.”
All agreed a key issue was knowing and trusting the players on an opposition side, not merely providing support to anyone looking to topple a despotic regime.
“This isn’t like giving out a mortgage. This is a deep test,” Barton said. “We need to know the rebels we’re working with better. The way to do that is to build a progression; we help them with small things and work our way up.”
Even such a cautious policy, however, has its risks.
“As President Obama said, ISIS doesn’t wait,” Cappella said. “Time plays into our decision making.”
Despite all challenges, Loftis said, America shouldn’t ‘build a wall’ between itself and rebel groups.
“America takes the words on the Statue of Liberty very seriously,” Loftis said. “We see it as our duty to help people fighting against tyranny.”