"The decision by the Obama administration to provide non-lethal aid to Syrian rebel forces seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad is drawing fire from some in the aid community, saying it politicizes aid and violates principles of neutrality which govern aid delivery," CNN's "Security Clearance" blog reports, noting, "Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday announced the United States would give aid to armed opposition, including medical supplies and meals." According to the blog, "Washington hopes the aid will bolster the credibility of the Syrian opposition, peel away supporters from al-Assad and curb a growing allegiance to radical Islamic groups gaining favor among the population by providing basic services to citizens in rebel-controlled areas," but "some aid workers worry al-Assad's regime could punish all humanitarian groups for the U.S. decision, thus hampering efforts to deliver aid."