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Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:55 PM Mar 2013

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 that’s emerged in recent months as Nusra has captured strategic infrastructure across Syria’s north and east, including oil and gas installations, grain silos and a hydroelectric dam.

<snip>

The rivalry between the groups is a reminder of how divided Syria’s 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

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Islamists, Securlar Rebels Battle in Syria Over Nusra Front's Call for Islamic State (Original Post) Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 OP
Never mind that! It's Democracy! Lets supply them with even MORE weapons! YAY! idwiyo Mar 2013 #1
It seems like another fine mess. daleo Mar 2013 #2
I sure do feel sorry for those Syrians... SkyDaddy7 Mar 2013 #3
They aren't fighting for "democracy," but to kill "infidels." David__77 Mar 2013 #4
I'm sure some -- even if not many -- had democratic aspirations Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2013 #5
Absolutely. But they cannot be separated from the rest. David__77 Mar 2013 #6
Why can they not be separated? The point of the OP is that they are fighting with each other. pampango Mar 2013 #10
Your comment is nothing short of DISGUSTING!! SkyDaddy7 Mar 2013 #18
What specifically and objectively leads you to believe LanternWaste Mar 2013 #12
I feel sorry for the Syrians, too. They have been played. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 #8
ABSURD!!! SkyDaddy7 Mar 2013 #17
Here's a timeline of the beginning of the civil war for you. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 #19
AGAIN... SkyDaddy7 Mar 2013 #20
And the US is involved in sending tons of weapons to add to the fun. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 #7
Fun, fun, fun atreides1 Mar 2013 #9
The only surprise is.... Xithras Mar 2013 #11
And Libiiya ans Egypt did so well. jessie04 Mar 2013 #13
Message auto-removed Generation_Why Mar 2013 #14
Assad's Syria was a secular state. Comrade Grumpy Mar 2013 #15
Assad's Syria was a secular dictatorship. pampango Mar 2013 #16
The goal... Ron Obvious Mar 2013 #21

SkyDaddy7

(6,045 posts)
3. I sure do feel sorry for those Syrians...
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 09:26 AM
Mar 2013

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)
4. They aren't fighting for "democracy," but to kill "infidels."
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 12:35 PM
Mar 2013

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)
5. I'm sure some -- even if not many -- had democratic aspirations
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 12:37 PM
Mar 2013

and I think it is to those unfortunate souls he was referring.

David__77

(23,214 posts)
6. Absolutely. But they cannot be separated from the rest.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 12:42 PM
Mar 2013

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)
10. Why can they not be separated? The point of the OP is that they are fighting with each other.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 02:31 PM
Mar 2013

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 International’s 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)
18. Your comment is nothing short of DISGUSTING!!
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 08:15 PM
Mar 2013

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)
12. What specifically and objectively leads you to believe
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 03:57 PM
Mar 2013

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)
8. I feel sorry for the Syrians, too. They have been played.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 01:11 PM
Mar 2013

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)
17. ABSURD!!!
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 08:10 PM
Mar 2013

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)
19. Here's a timeline of the beginning of the civil war for you.
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 11:35 PM
Mar 2013
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Syrian_civil_war_(January%E2%80%93April_2011)

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)
20. AGAIN...
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 09:14 AM
Mar 2013

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)
7. And the US is involved in sending tons of weapons to add to the fun.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 01:07 PM
Mar 2013

There is enough blood being spilled for lots and lots of people to have some on their hands.

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
11. The only surprise is....
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 03:14 PM
Mar 2013

...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.

Response to Comrade Grumpy (Original post)

 

Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)
15. Assad's Syria was a secular state.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 04:53 PM
Mar 2013

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)
16. Assad's Syria was a secular dictatorship.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 05:01 PM
Mar 2013

"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.

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