Free Syrian Army rebels defect to Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra

[Bosonic]

Source: The Guardian

Syria's main armed opposition group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), is losing fighters and capabilities to Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamist organisation with links to al-Qaida that is emerging as the best-equipped, financed and motivated force fighting Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Evidence of the growing strength of al-Nusra, gathered from Guardian interviews with FSA commanders across Syria, underlines the dilemma for the US, Britain and other governments as they ponder the question of arming anti-Assad rebels.

...

Illustrating their plight, FSA commanders say that entire units have gone over to al-Nusra while others have lost a quarter or more of their strength to them recently.

"Fighters feel proud to join al-Nusra because that means power and influence," said Abu Ahmed, a former teacher from Deir Hafer who now commands an FSA brigade in the countryside near Aleppo. "Al-Nusra fighters rarely withdraw for shortage of ammunition or fighters and they leave their target only after liberating it," he added. "They compete to carry out martyrdom [suicide] operations."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/free-syrian-army-rebels-defect-islamist-group

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. They ALWAYS claim there are "links to al Qaida"....

It's the 21st century boogie man like "communism" was in the 20th.

[Bosonic]

2. Sure, it's not like they actually came out and said that

Oh...

Syrian rebels slam al-Nusra over Qaeda pledge

A decision by the head of al-Nusra Front to pledge allegiance to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has prompted unprecedented criticism from some of Syria’s Islamist rebel brigades.

Until now, rebels had sought to bury their differences with al-Nusra, reluctant to jeopardize ties with a force that is militarily superior to most of the country’s rebel factions.

But an announcement this week by Al-Qaeda in Iraq, claiming al-Nusra as part of its network, and a pledge of allegiance from al-Nusra’s chief to Zawahiri have prompted rare direct and public criticism.

“When we in Syria launched our jihad (holy war) against the sectarian regime... we did not do so for the sake of any allegiance to a man here or another there,” the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front, an umbrella group of rebel brigades, said in a statement on Thursday.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/04/14/Syrian-rebels-slam-al-Nusra-over-Qaeda-pledge.html

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. You can see how popular thay are.

[jakeXT]

4. Yes it is, but it's also a tool like the Muslim Brotherhood has been for the CIA/MI6 in the past

1954-1970: CIA and the Muslim Brotherhood Ally to Oppose Egyptian President Nasser
Edit event

In 1954, Egyptian President Gamal Abddul Nasser’s nationalist policies in Egypt come to be viewed as completely unacceptable by Britain and the US. MI6 and the CIA jointly hatch plans for his assassination. According to Miles Copeland, a CIA operative based in Egypt, the opposition to Nasser is driven by the commercial community—the oil companies and the banks. At the same time, the Muslim Brotherhood’s resentment of Nasser’s secular government also comes to a head. In one incident, Islamist militants attack pro-Nasser students at Cairo University. Following an attempt on his own life by the Brotherhood, Nasser responds immediately by outlawing the group, which he denounces as a tool of Britain. The following years see a long and complex struggle pitting Nasser against the Muslim Brotherhood, the US, and Britain. The CIA funnels support to the Muslim Brotherhood because of “the Brotherhood’s commendable capability to overthrow Nasser.” [Baer, 2003, pp. 99; Dreyfuss, 2005, pp. 101-108] The Islamist regime in Saudi Arabia becomes an ally of the United States in the conflict with Nasser. They offer financial backing and sanctuary to Muslim Brotherhood militants during Nasser’s crackdown. Nasser dies of natural causes in 1970.

http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=uk_secret_intelligence_service

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Part of it is rather sad...

See, Our Right Wing had what they considered to be a HUGE success by linking up with evangelicals WHO NEVER USED TO TAKE PART IN ELECTIONS and they figured the same thing would work in the oil producing countries. Have their Right Wing hook up with THEIR evangelicals and the moralism would stop the commies and liberals and free thinking which leads to questioning their puppets.

[John2]

6. I read the above article

about the FSA not having superior weapons compared to the Islamists and losing fighters to them. They are blaming this on the U.S. I'm an American citizen and a military veteran, that rose up into the ranks. I went to military leadership schools also. So I wouldn't be your ordinary American citizen who had no military experience.

First of all, the FSA is made of defectors and joining the opposition. Now you are saying some are defecting again to Islamists. Secondly the article says the Islamists have more sophisticated weapons. When the defectors deserted, I assume they had arms from the Syrian military. Not only this, they were supposed to get support from countries like Saudi Arabia. They also receive support from Turkey by fleeing over the Border. This is my question, why do they need the U.S. to supply them with sophisticated weapons? These weapons cost money also. How do you know it is not a way to get money?

As far as I'm concerned, I could care less about the Syrian Civil War. Apparently our paid for Congress do not think so. The Syrian Civil War does not benefit any American except maybe those at the top and those Politicians. Lets hear more about who is fighting for the Assad Forces and supporting them. Why is Assad still able to go out in some of the communities or visit schools if he is so despised by all of his people? Does he still have any Sunni support fighting for him? Is his wife really a Sunni and British educated? Where is she and what is her opinion on this conflict? Did Assad really offer preparations for an Election back in January that was refused instead for his complete removal? Are there any Sunnis in the Baathist Party, which Assad is part of? I want to know the make up of it. Why is it up to those backing the opposition to decide who needs to leave? And if Assad is really holding his own or winning, why should outsiders decide the outcome? Shouldn't the people of Syria decide their own fate? The notion, that all 70,000 casualties in this War was done by Assad is ridiculous. Both sides are responsible for casualties, or it wouldn't be a War. It would be just another massacre instead. I'm not swayed by either side.