Right here, despite all the evidence, John McCain says it's preposterous to think that "moderate" Syrian rebels would shift alliances.
It surprised many, for example, when it announced in June that it would receive envoys from the anti-government Libyan rebels, a shift from its usual position of only engaging with the recognized governments of other states on political issues.
Instead, rebels have shifted tactics, fighters and analysts say, seizing outposts, then often abandoning them, to deny government air power a target for retaliation.
By allowing a free vote he has defanged would-be rebels and shifted attention from the misgivings of a few MPs to the substance of the bill itself.
Further, the rebel groups' shift in alliances will prove problematic in negotiating power sharing deals.
NATO is right not to get involved in the military struggle over the borders between Kosovo and Macedonia and Kosovo and Serbia ("Rebels Hope to Shift Borders in Balkans, Diplomats Say," news article, March 19).
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Rebel fighters pragmatically shift from one group to another based on the availability of funds and weapons, the report said.
One change may be that more extreme elements of the opposition make gains among the rebels, as fighting shifts to areas such as Syria's Idlib province, where such groups are more prominent.
With momentum seeming to shift, the rebels face the prospect of being outgunned and outnumbered in what increasingly looks like a mismatched civil war.
The shipment of Russian arms, which Duterte said will be used to fight pro-ISIS rebels, represents a big shift for the Philippines, which has traditionally maintained a close military alliance with the United States over the past 60 years.
