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CIA Director Brennan says Syria army remains resilient

In a rare public appearance, John Brennan said the US relationship with Saudi Arabia remains “on strong and solid ground” despite differences over Iran, Syria and Iraq, and denied that the CIA hacked into the computers of Senate investigators.
Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan speaks at a Council on Foreign Relations forum on the "challenges and opportunities for the American intelligence Community and reflect on his first year as CIA director" in Washington March 11, 2014. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) - RTR3GM8H

WASHINGTON — CIA Director John Brennan said on March 11 that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “probably feels more confident” that his regime will survive as a result of his army’s recent performance and the impact of fighting between Islamist rebels.

Speaking at the Council of Foreign Relations in a rare public appearance, Brennan, who spent much of his career at the CIA before serving as chief White House counterterrorism adviser in President Barack Obama’s first term, said the Syrian army had proven to be more resilient than many had anticipated after the uprising began three years ago.

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