Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri’s video urging jihadists to jump on the Syrian revolution bandwagon and the reports of significant fighters crossing the border from Iraq have added to the fears that a civil war is brewing. They have also raised questions of what al-Qaeda’s role will be.
Unsurprisingly, the global militant faction has been eager in jumping on board an uprising in mostly-Sunni Syria against a Shi’ite led regime. But the angry response at al-Qaeda trying to cash in on the rebellion, ranging from claims that the whole thing is an Assad lie to concerns expressed by many that al-Qaeda is “hijacking the revolution,” bring a whole new element of intrigue to the already complex situation.
The reality is that al-Qaeda has tried to cash in on anti-regime sentiment all over the place, and this is par for the course for them. The anger at the prospect of the revolution being “hijacked” by them likewise ignores the obvious: this uprising has already been hijacked numerous times since it began.
What started as a small pro-democracy rally morphed quickly into a nationwide movement, and once it reached that critical mass, groups of exiles like the Syrian National Council (SNC) tried to claim leadership. They were quickly supplanted by the Turkish government-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), and everyone from NATO to the Arab League has claimed the revolution as uniquely theirs to embrace.
The non-violent protest movement is now all but forgotten, and al-Qaeda’s attempts to claim the rebellion are no more or less legitimate than anyone else’s. With so many international groups hoping to cynically extract some advantage by regime change in Syria, one could hardly expect al-Qaeda to stay on the sidelines.
What's all this nonsense. Ayman al-Zawahri started working for the US when he operated in Afghanistan. Then he and his brother put forces into Bosnia with the support of NATO. The the PNAC required a catalysing event and as they say when the going gets tough Al Qaeda gets going, 911 followed. During the intervening years Ayman al-Zawahri's operations have killed 1,000's of Iraqi's ensuring that stability could not be achieved in the country giving the US an excuse to stay. Whenever peace looked like breaking out Ayman al-Zawahri got going. In Libya Qatar needed a front man for an assault on Qhadaffi, Hakim Al Behaj immediately stood up for the role becoming the Governor of Tripoli. Hakim is Ayman al-Zawahri number two these days according to Interpol. Now Turkey is allowing him to open an office on the Syrian border.
I can't wait to for them to finally announce the first meeting of the friends of Syria. Are we going to see Zawarahi and Bel Haj sitting down with Clinton, Ashton, Hague and Juppe. If so where will be chosen for "security reasons" and what will the meeting look like afterwards. Will it be Davos??? and will the site get hit with hellfire missile from a predator drone afterwars like in a Jzames Bond movie??? With murderous friends like this Syria can't possibly need enemies.
Look what the friends of Libya did, In September, the NTC released its first figures of casualties from the six-month conflict that began in mid-February. At least 30,000 people have been killed, 50,000 more wounded, and some 4,000 are still missing. According to the Libyan Health Office, scores were killed by Coalition air strikes. Only four months after military operations began NATO airstrikes killed 1,108 civilians and wounded 4,500 more.NATO’s intervention plunged Libya back into the Stone Age and the civil war cost the country’s economy more than $40 billion, shrinking it by 60%, according to the IMF. Crude oil production that contributed half of the country’s GDP, almost vanished. Foreign trade also suffered, with imports being damaged by the blocked access to its foreign assets. Cities are abandoned and left in ruins, lawlessness, security issues, hate crimes, children pulled out of schools, people living in constant fear – this is the face of a new Libya.
I'm suprised that this article extracted from the Daily Telegraph in the UKis not an antiwar headlined piece. This yellow journalism is right up your street. Fresh from his from his frontline against the Shia Allawites in Syria Ayman al-Zawahri is now in Tehran to meet up with his paymasters the Shiites in Tehran???? Holy shiite batman.
'The Islamic regime, which was accused of attempting to assassinate Israeli diplomats in three countries this week, is seeking to expand the network of Western enemies it assists, officials believe. As a result, Tehran has loosened restrictions on high level al–Qaeda operatives under its controls as well as offering financing and training to the terrorist group's senior planners. Security experts said that recent intelligence suggested Iran and al–Qaeda could attempt to find a common project in Europe, possibly targeting the London Olympics, which opens in July.'
I honestly thought we defeated Al Qaeda, no? No matter, they are really dirty players though, taking over all our efforts to support revolution in Syria! How are we going to start and control civil wars in the future with Al Qaeda interfering? We were told that there were never more than a few hundred members of Al Qaeda, so how do they continue to defy us after all we´ve spent and sacrificed over the last ten years?
Syria is just another Libya. Cant anyone see that?
'Regime change' by any other name . . .
And what motley gang will come next, as in Lib?
Whats happened in Libya by all reports is a success .Maybe those in Syria have not learned the lessons from Iraq,Afghanistan.