According to the BBC, Obama has requested $500m 'to train and equip members of the "moderate Syrian armed opposition".'
My well-thought out and nuanced thoughts below.
ARGH! STOP IT!
If you're going to spend $500m, spend it on divesting the US from the Middle East! Build a bunch of renewables and get us energy independent.
The United States has something like the Midas Touch in the Middle East, except instead of turning things into gold, we turn it into something much smellier. Why can't we stop touching things?
Maybe we can ask John McCain to vet the "moderate Syrians" we'll be arming. I hear he has great skill at that sort of thing.