Mideast Countries Give Up on US "Leadership;" Move to Support Syrian Rebels Ind. of US Policy

Frustrated and angry by the failure of the United States to take military action in Syria to help overthrow Syrian President Assad, several Persian Gulf countries -- led by Saudi Arabia -- are moving to strengthen their military support for Syrian rebels and to develop policy options independent from the United States, the Washington Post website reports today (November 3, 2013).

Although the Saudis and others in the region have been supplying weapons to the rebels since the fighting in Syria began more than two years ago and have cooperated with a slow-starting CIA operation to train and arm the opposition, officials say they have given up on the United States as the leader and coordinator of their efforts.

Instead, the Saudis plan to expand training facilities they operate in neighboring Jordan and increase the firepower of arms sent to rebel groups that are fighting extremist elements among them even as they battle the Syrian government, according to gulf officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve their friendly relations with the United States.

Unhappiness over Syria is only one element of what officials said are varying degrees of disenchantment in the region with much of the Obama Administration's Middle East policy -- or its lack of policy -- including its nuclear negotiations with Iran and criticism of Egypt's new government.