Key Syrian Rebel Groups Abandon Exile Leaders

[cqo_000]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Turborama (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: The New York Times

BEIRUT, Lebanon — As diplomats at the United Nations push for a peace conference to end Syria’s civil war, a collection of some of the country’s most powerful rebel groups publicly abandoned the opposition’s political leaders, casting their lot with an affiliate of Al Qaeda.

Distancing themselves from the exile opposition’s call for a democratic, civil government to replace Mr. Assad, they called on all military and civilian groups in Syria to “unify in a clear Islamic frame.” Those who signed included three groups aligned with the Western-backed opposition’s Supreme Military Council.

The statement was issued just as Western nations are striving to raise the profile of the “moderate” Syrian political opposition, which is led by Ahmad al-Jarba. The United States and its allies have been reluctant to fully align with and arm the rebels because their ranks are heavily populated by Islamists.

There was no immediate comment from Mr. Jarba, whose coalition is formally known as the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. Mr. Jarba canceled a news conference that had also been scheduled for Thursday.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/world/middleeast/syria-crisis.html?_r=0

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. This doesn't bode well for the West's plans. Our guys at the table are empty suits.

And the guys with the guns want a caliphate, not empty blather from guys sipping coffee in Ankara:

"Mohannad al-Najjar, an activist close to the leadership of one of the statement’s most powerful signers, Al Tawhid Brigade, said the group intended to send a message of disapproval to an exile leadership it believes has accomplished little.

'We found it was time to announce publicly and clearly what we are after, which is Shariah law for the country and to convey a message to the opposition coalition that it has been three years and they have never done any good for the Syrian uprising and the people suffering inside,' he said."

[karynnj]

6. It might actually be good - if the Us responds to it in a different way than you suggest

I know that the western backed group was largely encouraged and supported by the West - and especially the United States. I know that people as different as Hillary Clinton and John McCain wanted to give them more - overtly or covertly.

Even as President Obama pushed for a targeted strike, people like Kerry repeated often that it was not to decide the civil war and that the US does not want to decide who is in power. Ignore whether you believe Kerry. It could be that this reality will lead the US - in support of Geneva 2 - to support a process that does just that after getting a cease fire from all who are willing to move from war to a political solution. (Here, there are likely some that the country will still be fighting.)

[dipsydoodle]

2. Duplicate from Tuesday ?

Key Syria Islamist rebels say do not recognise National Coalition
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014602183

[cosmicone]

3. This was clear from the beginning

There can be no democracy with fundamentalist Islam running the show. They support democracy for ONE election and as soon as they win power, they want to make the place an Islamic Republic, suppressing all democracy.

Thank heavens Egypt survived and is crushing the Islamic brotherhood.

[leftynyc]

4. There are plenty of people here

who do not support what the military did in Egypt. Their form of "democracy" includes allowing what you described in your post. I'm in agreement with you - anything that installs religious fanatics who want to turn their country into nightmare for women should be fought against with every breath in our bodies. Majorities supported slavery and segregation in this country - that didn't make them "democratic" by any stretch.

[dipsydoodle]

5. The usual issue here refers to Sharia law

and the military have already made it clear that's staying in the constitution. As such its just DDSS.

[Turborama]

7. Locking as a duplicate

The same news was posted here earlier: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014602183