Obama backs Syria’s rebels

President Barack Obama signed a secret order authorizing US support for Syrian rebels locked in a battle to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, Reuters reports on Wednesday, August 1.  The directive was in an intelligence “finding” authorized early this year.  It authorizes clandestine action by the Central Intelligence Agency as well as actions by other US agencies that could help the rebels overthrow Assad.  Violence has been escalating dramatically, with fighting locking down main cities like Aleppo.  This follows last month’s failure of the UN Security Council to agree on tougher sanctions against Assad’s regime.  White House officials declined to comment but have said publicly they are providing “non-lethal” assistance. 

Read more on Reuters and on Rappler