Thousands of Syrian police who joined the rebels are on U.S. payroll
Syrian police armored vehicle in Homs. /AFP/Anwar Amro
Special to WorldTribune.com
WASHINGTON — The United States has been paying thousands of Syrian
police officers who deserted the regime of President Bashar Assad.
Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has approved tens of millions of dollars to pay the salaries of police officers who joined the rebels. They said the officers were working to maintain order in rebel-controlled territory, mostly in northern Syria.
“There are literally thousands of defected police inside of Syria,” Assistant Secretary of State Rick Barton said. “They are credible in their communities because they’ve defected.”
In an address to the Aspen Security Forum on July 19, Barton, responsible for State Department stabilization operations, did not say how many Syrian police deserters were on the U.S. payroll. He said the officers were receiving about $150 per month, a significant salary in Syria.
READ REST OF ARTICLE WORLD TRIBUINE.COM
The post Thousands of Syrian police who joined the rebels are on U.S. payroll appeared first on Intifada Palestine.
