Rogers: U.S. shouldn't arm Syrian rebels

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WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said Sunday there are other actions the United States should take to support the Syrian opposition besides arming the rebels.

Rogers said on CNN's "State of the Union," the United States should not consider helping to arm the rebels because "we just don't know who they are."

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., echoed Rogers concerns, saying funding weapons for the Free Syrian Army to sue against Syrian President's Bashar Assad's regime could be dangerous.

"They have a cadre of weapons that are very dangerous. And we are concerned, just like we were in Libya that if these weapons of mass destruction, if the chemical or biological weapons get in the hands of terrorists or other groups, that could be very detrimental to the Middle East. But also to the national security of the United States," he said.

Rogers suggested, instead, that the United States support the Arab League, which "is willing and ready to step up, to take more aggressive action against Assad in Syria."