It's time to rethink our support of the Syrian rebels

With the martyrdom of Fr. Francois Murad, world attention has been brought to the very real threat that Syrian extremists bring to the revolution in that country. The Free Syrian Army is now rife with jihadist militias, each with an extreme view of what Syria should become after the war. In each view, Christians are excluded. We are now supporting these rebels with advanced weaponry.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Within the past couple weeks, Syrian Free Army soldiers have been spotted armed with advanced U.S. made weaponry, including anti-tank rockets. This is the first concrete sign that the United States is providing material aid to the rebels, something they have been requesting for over a year.

In addition to advanced weapons, it is rumored that U.S. operatives are also in the region to provide training and coordination for the Syrian Free Army.

However, a long, protracted conflict with heavy losses for the rebels, has forced the Syrian Free Army to fill its ranks with volunteers from the outside. Many of these volunteers are extremists who are violently unfriendly to Christians, Israel, and the United States.

Simply put, the United States is increasing its material support for a rebel army that is largely comprised of terrorist enemies of our nation.

It's difficult to imagine that our government is ignorant of this situation, especially with high profile killings such of the martyrdom of Fr. Murad going viral across the internet. Certainly, we know these things. We know that jihadists have infiltrated the ranks of the Syrian Free Army and that they are committing unprovoked atrocities against Christians, and anyone they suspect is affiliated with the Assad regime.

If we know as much, then our government surely does.

So why are we ramping up support for our enemies?

This is the question that must be asked and remains unanswered.

Most Americans sympathize with the plight of the Syrian people. There is certainly no love for the dictator, Bashar al Assad either. However, it appears the choice we're about to make is between two evils. Common sense dictates that if we must choose, it should be the lesser of the two.

With jihadists executing Christians, we are confronted with the unpalatable possibility that the lesser of the two could be Assad. For despite his violence and lies, there is one group he did not persecute as enthusiastically as the jihadists - Christians.

It's time for tough questions and difficult answers. Unfortunately, there's no evidence our current administration is up to the task, or cares.

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