From the OP's article:

"The group then placed these cages in public squares in the Eastern Ghouta region in an attempt to "prevent regime bombardment", Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

"Jaish al-Islam is using these captives and kidnapped people -- including whole families -- as human shields," he said.

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Please please please reassure me that THESE are not the "moderate" rebels the US has been arming. OMG, they are, aren't they?

Just a stray added thought... perhaps the 50 special forces commandos we are sending into Syria could, I don't know, RESCUE THESE CAGED FAMILIES from the "moderate islamists"?

I give up. I just give up. When I think I have heard the worst about what's happening in Syria in our name, something even more disgusting gets revealed.

There is NO military solution for the war in Syria. It's time we all demand compromise and serious peace talks NOW.

Saudi Arabia seems to be funding them:

"Syria crisis: Saudi Arabia to spend millions to train new rebel force
Riyadh 'fighting two wars in Syria' as new force Jaysh al-Islam excludes al-Qaida affiliates in bid to defeat Assad regime

Saudi Arabia is preparing to spend millions of dollars to arm and train thousands of Syrian fighters in a new national rebel force to help defeat Bashar al-Assad and act as a counterweight to increasingly powerful jihadi organisations.

Syrian, Arab and western sources say the intensifying Saudi effort is focused on Jaysh al-Islam (the Army of Islam or JAI), created in late September by a union of 43 Syrian groups. It is being billed as a significant new player on the fragmented rebel scene."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/07/syria-crisis-saudi-arabia-spend-millions-new-rebel-force

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So, seems they ARE "moderate islamists" that Saudi Arabia, at least, is funding. Disgusting.

I can't tell for sure is the US is arming these people or not at this point, but since our "ally" Saudi Arabia is, what's the difference?

I understand that Army of Islam may not fit the bill. I also understand that Army of Conquest, holding territory in Idlib and including Nusra, also might not fit the bill.

for, the face of the planet, necessary to permit Syrian refugees to return home to this uncontrolled war zone where they used to live in peace.

The Syrian refugee crisis will not end until the crisis of ISIS is dealt with first.

http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/91096-151101-syria-rebels-using-caged-captives-as-human-shields-monitor

FROM A FSA CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE:

US/Saudi backed sectarian terrorist FSA using Alawite/non-Sunni civilian captives as human shields, placing them on top of buildings.
Basically the captives are saying that Russia and the Syrian army should stop bombing terrorists. Of course they will say that since they are surrounded by barbarians who will kill them if they didn't.
Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=470_1446384636#dsL1c1dAIiH9OKk1.99

I was just informed that Hillary had a hand in this. Yeah, instead of telling them to cut it out, she condemned their actions.


Feature Hillary Clinton's 9 most memorable moments as secretary of state


7. Isolating Syria's Assad
Clinton, seen here in 2012 condemning atrocities committed by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has played a central role in the administration's efforts to corral international support against the regime. However, like Iran, Syria remains an unfinished story: Assad is in a bloody stalemate with the rebels, the United Nations has proved impotent in stopping the bloodshed, and atrocities continue apace.


http://theweek.com/articles/468265/hillary-clintons-9-most-memorable-moments-secretary-state


Z

Sickening, every single rebel group plus ISIS are nothing but cancerous to Syria and it's people.

The article says that most of the civilians were captured two years ago.

What a nightmare it must be for those innocent Syrian people....a 2-year-long nightmare!

Oh yeah, wouldn't work, since the government gives these guys arms already.