West strengthened jihadists’ hand in Syria, say rebels

[cqo_000]

Source: AFP

ALEPPO, Syria: Western hesitation to support moderate rebels in Syria has strengthened the hand of jihadists among them, giving an increasingly Islamist tint to the rebellion against Bashar Assad, rebel leaders in Aleppo say.

A commander of one of the brigades in Aleppo’s Old City placed the blame for the move squarely at US President Barack Obama’s feet. “The United States promised the people of Syria that it would not allow Assad to cross the red line and would attack, but it was all lies,” said Abu Ammar, whose brigade is one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria.

Part of the change in alliance is purely pragmatic, as it is the jihadists who have given punch to the war effort, says Abu Mohammed, a Sunni Muslim imam who acts as a sort of chaplain to the men of the Liwa Al-Tawhid group.

“The United States and the West are... radicalizing people. In the face of their indifference, we have begun aligning with Al-Qaeda, because it is they who are fighting and dying for us while the world just looks on.”

Read more: http://www.arabnews.com/news/466184

[JDPriestly]

1. Would they like us to help them like we helped Iraqis?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014606083

The violence is escalating in Iraq. No end in sight.
The Syrians have to make peace.

[inch4progress]

2. Ehhhh, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar did that.

Obama had to balance between protecting Syrian civilians and making sure fundamentalist rebels didn't end up with western weapons.

He did a good job at that. I'm pretty sure this article just reflects the anger felt by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar directed at Obama for not blindly flooding the rebel ranks with western weaponry.

Only an Idiot would equate NOT PROVIDING WEAPONRY with SUPPORTING RADICALISM.

He claimed people in Aleppo “have no faith in the international community or the promises of the West, which has led them to ally with Islamists and groups linked to Al-Qaeda.”

The rebels were allied with these groups from the get-go, which is why the administration followed the course that it did.

Romney would have flooded the rebel ranks with weapons, fortunately Obama is president. I would hate to see more western arms in the hands of terrorists and FUNDAMENTALIST THUGS WHO WANT TO INSTITUTE RELIGIOUS LAW, PUT WOMEN IN THEIR "RIGHTFUL PLACE" AND PUT GUNS IN THE HANDS OF 6YOS.

[karynnj]

6. + 100000

Obama has had to walk a narrow line - and he has done so well. That he even was able to do that after the red line was so clearly broken is impressive.

[L0oniX]

3. So ...arrest our government for aiding and giving comfort to a terrorist org....

just like what would happen to any US citizen who gave aid and comfort to a terrorist org. It's the law ...for someone ...I guess.

[seveneyes]

4. No Sale

"we have begun aligning with Al-Qaeda, because it is they who are fighting and dying for us while the world just looks on.”

I suspect AQ is more about getting their Sharia law into place and living by the sword. As long as people are being raised and taught this sickness, the world will suffer their attempts to inflict it upon everyone.

[karynnj]

5. The US never promised that it would not allow Assad to cross the red line

How could they promise that - given it means they control Assad, which they don't. Obama DID say that they would respond if he did - and Obama led the world (finally) to respond. Removing the chemical weapons is more closely related to the red line than an attack would have been. Not to mention, the attack Obama envisioned to make it harder for Assad to use chemical weapons would not have been acceptable to them either.

Both Obama and Kerry said hundreds of times that they did not think the US should fight in Syria's civil war. Kerry - with 60 minutes in the overtime piece - noted that like Vietnam, Syria is a civil war - and we should not get into a civil war. (It is interesting how many here just heard limited strike - and equated it to Iraq - even to agreeing with Rand Paul.)

There is a problem that the rebels likely were given too much encouragement from both the Bush administration and some in the Obama administration. Here, they are attempting to use a guilt trip - with the red line comment. Additionally, they are using the jihadist card which is bogus as well. If people are leaving their ranks and joining the jihadis, that could suggest that those rebels were always more extremist than they wanted to portray themselves. It certainly does not lead me to think we need to do more to get them back into the moderate group - they have outed themselves as either opportunists or extremists.

[Sunlei]

7. Syria = never ends! religious hate. I personally don't want the USA to 'fight & die' for you.

go hit up your known terrorist group 'friends' for support if you can't even conceive PEACE and diplomacy in your world.