Syrian opposition unmasked

[Bleipriester]

The Syrian "opposition" consists of about 1000 groups with 100.000 members all together. A British study unveils, what their positions are.

- 10.000 Jihadists, foreign fighters for Al Qaeda
- 30.000 to 35,000 hardline Islamists
- 30.000 Islamists
- Some secular rebels

Al Qaeda is about to gain control of North Syria:

Al-Qaeda has assassinated several FSA rebel commanders in northern Latakia province in recent weeks, and locals say they fear this is part of a jihadist campaign to gain complete control of the territory.

Read more about the Jihadists rising influence in the Syrian opposition:
Syria: nearly half rebel fighters are jihadists or hardline Islamists, says IHS Jane's report - Telegraph

 

[mudwhistle]

I can see why Obama supports them.

 

[Osomir]

The shift in power rather comes from our lack of support for them. The Islamist groups have foreign backers, since the US and Europe have rode the fence on backing others, the secular groups didn't get the backing they needed to stay strong relative to them.

That being said, it's a little reductionist to break 1000 groups into three or four categories, they aren't really separated along those lines.

 

[Sunni Man]

The shift in power rather comes from our lack of support for them. The Islamist groups have foreign backers, since the US and Europe have rode the fence on backing others the secular groups didn't get the backing they needed to stay strong relative to them.

You are 100% correct.

In the beginning, the rebel forces were almost exclusively comprised of Syrian citizens fighting to free themselves from the murderous dictator Assad.

But after a year of vicious fighting the rebels were in serious need of better weapons and training in tactics.

Yet the U.S. and the Western nations stood by and basically did nothing; and twisted the arms of the rich Gulf countries not to get involved in the conflict.

That left the door open for the radical Islamist's to fill the vacuum and bolster the ranks of the Syrian freedom fighters. ..

 

[dilloduck]

The shift in power rather comes from our lack of support for them. The Islamist groups have foreign backers, since the US and Europe have rode the fence on backing others the secular groups didn't get the backing they needed to stay strong relative to them.

You are 100% correct.

In the beginning, the rebel forces were almost exclusively comprised of Syrian citizens fighting to free themselves from the murderous dictator Assad.

But after a year of vicious fighting the rebels were in serious need of better weapons and training in tactics.

Yet the U.S. and the Western nations stood by and basically did nothing; and twisted the arms of the rich Gulf countries not to get involved in the conflict.

That left the door open for the radical Islamist's to fill the vacuum and bolster the ranks of the Syrian freedom fighters. ..

The rebels also badly needed an airstrike to help them. They didn't get that either. Is the Administration for a regime change in Syria or not ?

 

[Hossfly]

The shift in power rather comes from our lack of support for them. The Islamist groups have foreign backers, since the US and Europe have rode the fence on backing others the secular groups didn't get the backing they needed to stay strong relative to them.

You are 100% correct.

In the beginning, the rebel forces were almost exclusively comprised of Syrian citizens fighting to free themselves from the murderous dictator Assad.

But after a year of vicious fighting the rebels were in serious need of better weapons and training in tactics.

Yet the U.S. and the Western nations stood by and basically did nothing; and twisted the arms of the rich Gulf countries not to get involved in the conflict.

That left the door open for the radical Islamist's to fill the vacuum and bolster the ranks of the Syrian freedom fighters. ..

The rebels also badly needed an airstrike to help them. They didn't get that either. Is the Administration for a regime change in Syria or not ?

The answer seems to be "Wait and see". No need to be hasty and jump the gun.

 

[dilloduck]

You are 100% correct.

In the beginning, the rebel forces were almost exclusively comprised of Syrian citizens fighting to free themselves from the murderous dictator Assad.

But after a year of vicious fighting the rebels were in serious need of better weapons and training in tactics.

Yet the U.S. and the Western nations stood by and basically did nothing; and twisted the arms of the rich Gulf countries not to get involved in the conflict.

That left the door open for the radical Islamist's to fill the vacuum and bolster the ranks of the Syrian freedom fighters. ..

The rebels also badly needed an airstrike to help them. They didn't get that either. Is the Administration for a regime change in Syria or not ?

The answer seems to be "Wait and see". No need to be hasty and jump the gun.

How could our policy re: Syria possibly be no regime change ? Are you saying that if Syria gets rid of their chemical weapons the US will be satisfied ?

 

[Sunni Man]

The rebels also badly needed an airstrike to help them. They didn't get that either. Is the Administration for a regime change in Syria or not ?

Indecisiveness is the hallmark of the Obama administration.

Unless it has something to do with gays......then it's on point. ..

 

[Hossfly]

The rebels also badly needed an airstrike to help them. They didn't get that either. Is the Administration for a regime change in Syria or not ?

The answer seems to be "Wait and see". No need to be hasty and jump the gun.

How could our policy re: Syria possibly be no regime change ? Are you saying that if Syria gets rid of their chemical weapons the US will be satisfied ?

I'm saying we should sit back, let the animals kill each other to near extinction, then pick sides. A win-win situation.

 

[Osomir]

I'm saying we should sit back, let the animals kill each other to near extinction, then pick sides. A win-win situation.

It's pretty disgusting that you would refer to the regional population as animals. They're humans, and treating them as something else is pretty disturbing and only leads to incredibly poor policy formulation.

 

[dilloduck]

The rebels also badly needed an airstrike to help them. They didn't get that either. Is the Administration for a regime change in Syria or not ?

Indecisiveness is the hallmark of the Obama administration.

Unless it has something to do with gays......then it's on point. ..

and the "wait until you see what happens and say "I meant to do that" strategy. A little clarity might help the situation but I got a feeling that Obama doesn't want to let any true agenda to be visible. He's probably still griping that the fact that we're helping al Qaeda was exposed.

 

[Hossfly]

I'm saying we should sit back, let the animals kill each other to near extinction, then pick sides. A win-win situation.

It's pretty disgusting that you would refer to the regional population as animals. They're humans, and treating them as something else is pretty disturbing and only leads to incredibly poor policy formulation.

I wasn't referring to the people population but to the "religious" fanatic creatures of the species. Sorry, I apologize to animals everywhere.

 

[Bleipriester]

The shift in power rather comes from our lack of support for them. The Islamist groups have foreign backers, since the US and Europe have rode the fence on backing others, the secular groups didn't get the backing they needed to stay strong relative to them.

That being said, it's a little reductionist to break 1000 groups into three or four categories, they aren't really separated along those lines.

If they have a religious motivation to fight a government that provides freedom of religion, it´s just about to remove that freedom. Assad is Muslim, the Syrian president must be Muslim, it´s the only post which must be filled with a Muslim. That has nothing to do with a democracy movement. The rebels are going home, because they cannot win and are replaced by Islamist fighters.

 

[Sunni Man]

If they have a religious motivation to fight a government that provides freedom of religion, it´s just about to remove that freedom. Assad is Muslim, the Syrian president must be Muslim, it´s the only post which must be filled with a Muslim. That has nothing to do with a democracy movement. The rebels are going home, because they cannot win and are replaced by Islamist fighters.

#1) Assad isn't a muslim......he is an Alawite which neither Sunni or most Shia consider to be muslim.

#2) How can the Syrian rebels go home when they are already home?? ..

 

[dilloduck]

If they have a religious motivation to fight a government that provides freedom of religion, it´s just about to remove that freedom. Assad is Muslim, the Syrian president must be Muslim, it´s the only post which must be filled with a Muslim. That has nothing to do with a democracy movement. The rebels are going home, because they cannot win and are replaced by Islamist fighters.

#1) Assad isn't a muslim......he is an Alawite which neither Sunni or most Shia consider to be muslim.

#2) How can the Syrian rebels go home when they are already home?? ..

Cmon SM----you know full well that Syria is full of foreign fighters who have been recruited by Qatar and the Saudis.

 

[Bleipriester]

#1) Assad isn't a muslim......he is an Alawite which neither Sunni or most Shia consider to be muslim.

Because of such bullshit, the situation in Syria escalated!

#2) How can the Syrian rebels go home when they are already home?? ..

They go home to their families.

 

[Sunni Man]

#1) Assad isn't a muslim......he is an Alawite which neither Sunni or most Shia consider to be muslim.

Because of such bullshit, the situation in Syria escalated!

Yea, it had nothing to do with Assad being just another brutal thug murderous dictator like Saddam. ..

 

[Bleipriester]

#1) Assad isn't a muslim......he is an Alawite which neither Sunni or most Shia consider to be muslim.

Because of such bullshit, the situation in Syria escalated!

Yea, it had nothing to do with Assad being just another brutal thug murderous dictator like Saddam. ..

Right! For the not religion driven rebels it has to do that Syria is not a super wealthy western country. They see us in the Internet.

 

[Sunni Man]

Right! For the not religion driven rebels it has to do that Syria is not a super wealthy western country. They see us in the Internet.

................................ ^^^ Would you please translate that into english?

Thanks in advance.......

 

[toastman]

Because of such bullshit, the situation in Syria escalated!

Yea, it had nothing to do with Assad being just another brutal thug murderous dictator like Saddam. ..

Right! For the not religion driven rebels it has to do that Syria is not a super wealthy western country. They see us in the Internet.

Uhhh what ??