Islamists, Securlar Rebels Battle in Syria Over Nusra Front's Call for Islamic State
Source: McClatchy Newspapers
TAL ABYAD, Syria -- Two Syrian rebel groups one seeking an elected civil government, the other favoring the establishment of a religious state are battling each other in the city of Tal Abyad, on the border with Turkey, in a sign of the tensions that are likely to rule this country if the government of President Bashar Assad falls.
Four people were killed Sunday in fighting here between the Farouq Battalions, which favors elections, and Jabhat al Nusra, or the Nusra Front, which the United States has declared an al Qaida-affiliated terrorist group. Since then, Farouq has been massing men here in an example of the growing friction thats emerged in recent months as Nusra has captured strategic infrastructure across Syrias north and east, including oil and gas installations, grain silos and a hydroelectric dam.
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The rivalry between the groups is a reminder of how divided Syrias rebel factions are and how inaccurate it is to refer to the anti-Assad forces as if they were a single group, with a single goal. Indeed, while news stories for months often referred to rebels as the Free Syrian Army, that term is more an idea than an organization. Instead, the rebel movement comprises dozens of groups whose ideologies have only one common goal: the toppling of the Assad regime.
<snip>
The rivalry between the groups has become increasingly apparent as Nusra raises the volume of its calls for Islamic law. Recently, it suggested it might declare Raqqa, the largest city under rebel control, the center of an Islamic emirate. Last November, the group clashed with members of Kurdish militias after it seized the border crossing at Ras al Ayn.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/26/3307682/islamists-secular-rebels-battle.html
idwiyo
(5,113 posts)daleo
(21,317 posts)SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)Who have been risking their lives to have a Democracy & here come the idiot Islamist who will see to it that it never ever happens...The SAD truth is those Syrians in support of Democracy have two choices...Violently fight for freedom or roll over & allow the Islamist to have their way.
Sorry, but I support arming the folks fighting for a Democratic Syria...It shocks me that so many here on DU would rather ignore the plight of so many Syrians who dream of having the right to pick their leaders?!?!
We either stand for those fighting for freedom or we ignore them & let whatever happens happen...I only see one option.
David__77
(23,214 posts)The areas where the government has vacated or been defeated are controlled by Islamists, not democrats. They are not the same thing. I don't want one cent to go to those terrorists.
Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)and I think it is to those unfortunate souls he was referring.
David__77
(23,214 posts)Any more than the democrats fighting Lon Nol in the early 70s could have been separated from the Khmer Rouge. The analogy is correct on many levels.
pampango
(24,692 posts)That sounds like the opposition factions believe there is some distinct 'separation' between them since they are shooting at each other.
Is it not Assad's contention that everyone who opposes him is an 'armed criminal' or a 'terrorist' - that there is no democratic opposition? Your assessment seems to come right out of the playbook of the government.
Does the presence of an element of 'bad guys' discredit every occurrence of opposition to a dictator in the world? The only 'good' revolutions are those that have absolutely no 'bad guys' participating in them? If jihadists were a distinct minority of those fighting against the government, would the entire opposition still be discredited?
From Amnesty International today:
While it is clear that the vast majority of war crimes and other gross violations continue to be committed by government forces, Amnesty Internationals research points to an escalation in abuses by armed opposition groups, which have increasingly resorted to hostage taking and to the torture and summary killing of soldiers, pro-government militias and civilians.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/keep-international-pressure-against-abuses-syria-2013-03-26
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)How you & others can support a regime that started this entire mess by torturing KIDS for spray painting anti-Assad messages on a building.
Assad is 100% against any form of democracy...The Assad family has shown for decades it does not tolerate ANY dissent whatsoever.
You folks simply make up your own reality much like Tea Baggers do on the Right! SAD!!!
Seriously?? "Is it not Assad's contention that everyone who opposes him is an 'armed criminal' or a 'terrorist' - that there is no democratic opposition?" WTF??? LOL!!
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)What specifically and objectively leads you to believe that numerous political factions are unable to be separated, one from the other?
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)The emir of Qatar and the Saudi sheiks thought they could use the cover of the Arab Spring to topple a regional foe and a pillar of the competing Shia axis (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Hezbollah). "Rise up, Sunnis!. We're right behind you."
The emir and the sheiks are quite willing to see as many Syrians killed as necessary to break the regime. They shouldn't be surprised if somebody repays the favor.
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)This all started because some kids were severely tortured to death for spray painting anti-Assad on a couple of buildings. Obviously you have NO CLUE about the history of the Assad family & what they have done to their own people for decades...SAD!!!!
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Low level, thuggish repression by the Assad regime was met first by rioting and arson, then by armed attacks by the middle of March 2011.
Not saying that the Assad regime are nice folks, but not exactly falling for the glorious revolution narrative, either.
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)These people had been brutally oppressed for DECADES!! How long are people suppose to live being treated like animals before you would OK a rebellion? Seriously?
The timeline proves exactly what I said...Have you bothered reading it?? Because if you have then you must be one cold hearted person or you have alternative motive? My guess is the later...
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...Read the timeline! The timeline you sent me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_%28January%E2%80%93April_2011%29
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)There is enough blood being spilled for lots and lots of people to have some on their hands.
atreides1
(16,046 posts)Like throwing gasoline on a fire that you're standing in...
Xithras
(16,191 posts)...is that it's happening so soon. This has been predicted by just about everyone who has been paying attention. The expectation, though, was that the alliance would hold together until Assad fell, and then Syria would descend into another year or two of brutal civil war. Yugoslav style if the world stayed out of it, and Vietnam style if the world got involved. Either way, it would be a long, bloody mess.
It's a bit surprising to see the rebel factions falling apart already. That doesn't bode well for them. Assad may survive this after all.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)US should stay the hell out of there.
Response to Comrade Grumpy (Original post)
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Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)You might ask CBS's Clarissa Richardson why she has to wear a burqa when she's with the glorious freedom fighters. She never seems to notice.
pampango
(24,692 posts)"C'mon seculars. The M.E. is long overdue for a secular - democratic - revolution."
This one started out as a peaceful democratic revolution (as happened in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere) but has certainly been transformed into something much different.
I suspect that Western women 'notice' when they are forced to wear a burqa. They may view it as a tool that has to be used to do their job but I'm quite sure that they 'notice' (and don't like) the fact that they have to wear one.
Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)The stated goal of the Islamic rebels in the ME is democratic elections. Once.