Dozens Of Syrian Fighting Groups Break Ties With Main Opposition, Says Rebel Commander

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

BEIRUT — Several dozen rebel groups in southern Syria have broken with the main political opposition group in exile, a commander said in a video posted Wednesday, dealing a potential new setback to Western efforts to unify moderates battling President Bashar Assad's regime.

The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition, the political arm of the Free Syrian Army rebel group, has long struggled to win respect and recognition from the fighters. It is widely seen as cut off from events on the ground and ineffective in funneling aid and weapons to the rebels.

In the video, a rebel, later identified by a Free Syrian Army official as a captain in a local brigade, read a statement with about two dozen fighters standing behind him, some holding a banner with FSA emblems.

The man said political opposition leaders have failed to represent those trying to bring down Assad.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/world/227967561.html

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. I didn't think this would happen ...

... until Assad was defeated.

That's when I thought the opposition would turn on themselves in a power struggle.

This strengthens Assad's military advantage.

[leveymg]

2. We have all been here before

[Miranda4peace]

3. Cough cough

[Berlum]

6. + 1,000

We are still suffering the insanity of the WAR & PROFIT plan of the godforsaken Republicon ChickenHawks (R).

OMG.

[Miranda4peace]

7. Unfortunately they have their democratic mirror groups like CNAS

http://www.democrats.com/is-cnas-the-democratic-pnac

Is CNAS the Democratic PNAC? As we all know, PNAC - the Project for a New American Century - was the campaign of neocons like Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle that persuaded Bush to invade Iraq. Is CNAS trying to keep us there over the objections of 70% of Americans and 70% of Iraqis?

Today the Pentagon Post's Jackson Diehl exposed CNAS's nefarious work:

Still, there's a better way for Obama to solve his Iraq problem -- one that is honest about the state and stakes of the war but still sharply differentiates him from McCain. What's more, it's a solution dreamed up by Democrats who are among the candidate's advisers on defense. As outlined by Michelle Flournoy, Colin Kahl and Shawn Brimley of the Center for a New American Security, the strategy would focus on the biggest difference between the presidential candidates -- which is not about troop withdrawals but about the role the United States should play in Iraq five or 10 years from now.

So according to CNAS there's little difference between Obama and McCain on troop withdrawals from Iraq?

Flournoy, a senior Pentagon official during the Clinton administration, points out that in the short term, the differences between Obama and McCain are mostly illusory. The next president will probably inherit an American force in Iraq of 130,000 to 140,000 troops -- and either one would probably reduce that number to about 100,000 in 2009. McCain will be obliged to remove at least some troops because of the strain on the military and the need to send reinforcements to Afghanistan. But Obama will find it hard to withdraw more than five brigades his first year even if he wants to.

How about a Center for Domestic Stabilization and Maximization. CDSM aka doing their damn job.

[cosmicone]

4. Those opposition groups really didn't have a grievance

except for the goal of Islamization of a secular country and then run it as a country of the for the sunnis, by the sunnis, for the sunnis. Good that the opposition is disintegrating. They can all go and join the muslim brotherhood and make their pillows wet with tears.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Dang. We hate it when our pawns don't behave as we would wish.

[karynnj]

8. Interesting --- Could it be that many rebel groups disagree with SNC NOT wanting Geneva 2?

I think it would be great if the US were signalling no support unless they participated helpfully in Geneva 2. The US does not have to support them no matter what they do.