World | Pentagon Pentagon Aims to Train Small Syria Opposition Force Program could start next year, slowly expand By Matt Cantor Posted Jul 16, 2014 12:00 PM CDT Copied In this June 5, 2014 photo, a woman walks through a devastated part of Homs, Syria. Syrian government forces retook the control of Homs in May 2014, after a three year battle with rebels. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic) The Pentagon has a plan to train some moderate opposition fighters in Syria, but it may struggle to win congressional approval. Administration officials want to start small, training just 2,300 people; the program would be "scalable" from there, a top defense official tells the Wall Street Journal. It would likely last 18 months and start next year. The planners believe that few candidates will be able to pass a tough vetting system aimed at keeping extremists out—hence the force's minimal size. With moderate fighters struggling against Bashar al-Assad's forces, the administration wants to act soon. But reaction to the $500 million proposal has been mixed. The administration doesn't expect the plan to bring immediate change in Syria, and some members of Congress want to see a bigger force. What's more, it's not clear where the training program would take place; Jordan, fearing retaliation, has been reluctant to allow it, reports the Journal. Click for the full story. Read These Next Mid That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Cops: Arizona 5th graders drew up plot to 'end' a classmate. The DOJ just fired 3 prosecutors tied to Capitol riot criminal cases. Report an error