Rebel Syrian Council Names Christian Communist as President
Will Leftist Christian Further Alienate SNC From Islamist Rebels?
When the Obama Administration began condemning the Syrian National Council (SNC) as “extremist” and out of touch with the rebellion at large, they promised to anoint a new “leadership” for the rebellion. That hasn’t happened yet, at least not publicly, but the SNC has announced a leadership change of their own.
The exile group, which despite the US allegations was already falling out of favor with the increasingly Islamist-led rebel fighters inside Syria, has tapped George Sabra, a leftist Christian, as their new president.
Sabra got his start with the Syrian Communist Party in 1970, which has since changed its name to the Syrian Democratic People’s Party. The group joined the SNC last year, and Sabra became SNC spokesman. In addition to his political activities, he was also a writer for the Arabic language version of Sesame Street.
Though Sabra’s appointment may serve to calm Western concerns about the SNC’s affiliations with the Muslim Brotherhood, it is likely to put a great deal more distance between them and the rebel fighting forces, which are made up mostly of Salafists and military defectors, neither of whom are liable to embrace him.
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mojo
November 9th, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Ok what's next, the son of shah of Iran and the Iranian communist party called (Tudeh) with MeK to establish the ground for next "revolution" in Iran…? Are you kidding me, we said functioning democracy but we didn't mean for something that ideologically or morally or politically or in practical terms not being able to function. Although, I think that there is a chance for going back and realizing that in real time and present situation these "rebels" have no others alternative but to seat down and talk with Syrian government, so goes for US and those in Europe who wants to have peace and a better relation both with Iran, Iraq and Syria and a prospers Middle East, that means that they have to look into their mistakes and reconsider their support for Israel. That's only what I think, if Obama or not so angel Angela Markell or for that matter the French social democrat government want to act on my thoughts is another. Look: the Syrian government offered and still offering for these rebels to come and talk, they should have taken this offer last year, by refusing the offer they have given more time for terrorism to grow, they have given more time to Saudis and Qatari and others to arm and pay for these terrorist to terrorize syrian people, it's time for those who wants peace to act and be realistic.