In early June, France air-dropped medical and food supplies to civilians at the behest of the U.N.— and also, by the by, slipped in “assault rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades and launchers,” making them the first NATO country to do so. The assistance came at a crucial moment of stalemate. Watchers who were previously puzzled when rebels were suddenly able to beat back government forces are now not so puzzled. [NYT]
