Day 1,121: How much help is the US really giving Syria’s rebels?

Today is Day 1,121 of the Syria conflict.

The New York Times has a piece out today that says the existence of an "operations room" to help Syrian rebels, run jointly by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the US out of Amman, "is an open secret" in Jordan. The headquarters, called "Military Operations Command," it distributes arms and cash to rebels, the latter as a small "incentive not to join better-funded extremist groups." It also provides training, although the Times piece quotes Syrian fighters saying that the training is fairly basic, and of limited use to rebels who have already been in battle for many months.

Published overnight, the piece provides some helpful context for Time's report yesterday that a "uniquely American anti-tank missile" had showed up in three Youtube videos, being used by "a moderate rebel group": The New York Times piece specifically mentions anti-tank missiles being handed out to Syrian fighters in Jordan, though it also says what the rebels really want are anti-aircraft missiles, which the three supporting countries refuse to supply.

Both of these pieces raise the question of whether the US is "doing enough" in Syria, or whether the too little aid, too late may only be prolonging the conflict, without giving the rebels enough assistance to enable them to prevail.

That question isn't just being asked in the United States. Last night, British daily The Telegraph made the dramatic claim that "the crisis in Syria has emerged as the biggest threat to Britain's security." Translation: Britain, like many European countries, has long been concerned about the threat of homegrown terrorism from radicalized youths. The Syrian war has increased this threat due to the large number of British citizens (the Telegraph says "as many as 500") traveling to Syria to fight, and who may now be coming back to the UK after months or years with extremist groups. (More on Westerners going to fight in Syra here.)

In other news:

– The death toll from the rebel infighting mentioned yesterday is rising. Latest count is over 68 fighters killed.

– Wonder what it's like to be living in Aleppo right now? The Los Angeles Times has your answer.

– Syria's kids are falling way behind in school due to this conflict. Syria's literacy rate used to be great, for the region. Now, "there are 9-year-old kids who can't read or write," a mother near Damascus tells USA Today. 

– Thereare no plans, currently, to investigate the claims about recent chemical weapons use by government forces.