With Syrian-based ISIS virtually non-existent, US officials are looking for a new enemy to justify the continued military presence there. The focus seems to be falling on al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, which officials are claiming poses a threat of launching attacks in the West.
The US policy on Syrian al-Qaeda has been very complicated over the years, with US support for rebels often boiling down to US arming of al-Qaeda forces. The US has also tended to be deeply critical of Russian and Syrian government attacks on al-Qaeda in northern Syria, even as they now argue the group poses a threat.
And while US criticism of Russian and Syrian offensives in Idlib has been as recent as the past couple of weeks, those same US officials are also accusing Russia of “inadvertently” protecting al-Qaeda from US airstrikes simply by being present in northern Syria.
This is a dishonest claim, as in practice, the US has launched airstrikes in this part of Syria without facing Russian resistance, and Russia and Syria have also launched airstrikes of their own against this same al-Qaeda faction. There is no sign any of them is having problems attacking al-Qaeda, nor that al-Qaeda is in any way benefiting from this split.
u.s. fear mongering. Desperate for a war to bolster it’s dying military-industrial factories.
USA/Israeli/Saudi Axis of Evil funds, trains, and protects Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and many other terror groups.
You mean Al-CIA-da?
More like AL-CIA-DUH…!!!!!
This is a claim from US officials where they know it’s BS. Contrary to the cases where they actually believe it -to some extent – in a bigger picture kind of way.
If true it would be an easy fix. Get out of the way and let those that actually want to rid Syria of “terrorists”, and not support them, have at it.
The US govt would rather the Syria rebels permanently divide Syria, but if they’re going to get wiped out the US wants in on that in the hopes of being able to dictate Syria’s post-war govt.
Wow, the NY Times story seems to be saying that US officials can’t stand the idea of anyone even thinking about western attacks, regardless of having no way of carrying them out. What scardy-cats.
Of course AQS is a growing problem- we need a pretext for keeping forces in the neighborhood. Even if AQS wasn’t a problem, it would be.
And who couldn’t have predicted that spending a couple of billion to smash the Syrian state (odious though it may be) would have resulted in conditions where AQ could thrive.
tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies… tell me lies, tell me tell me lies…
Today, AlQueda, tomorrow ISIS again, friday, some new alphabet jumble. In the end, rubbled Syria, dead civilians, millions of refugees…mission accomplished
Yes, they create a desert snd call it peace.
what they’re saying is Send More $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
What a joke have we become. Protecting Al-Qaeda, crying on air as it got kicked out of Aleppo, and the crying boys and girls in media never bothered to go to Aleppo to find out just how cruel life was under their beloved “rebels” manning the barricades.
After complaining about Russia and Syria targeting hospitals and schools — now we are seeing Al-Qaeda! Morons— now that everybody and their mom knows that ISIS exists ONLY in US held areas in Syria — it is hard to find more ISIS menace. So, after long last we discover Al-Qaeda, little pieces of it here and there.
Since they cannot go on Teheran, abuse if Syria will do.
As if it is not clear for an eternity now that the withdrawal of US troops would end Syrian crisis. What? End a crisis! There are still plenty of checks left in our checkbook!
This new group is that regurgitated scam “The Khorasan Group” now named “Hurras al-Din”. Khorasan was the excuse for Obama to start bombing in Syria.
Khorasan: Fake Terror Threat Used To Justify Bombing Syria https://theintercept.com/2014/09/28/u-s-officials-invented-terror-group-justify-bombing-syria/
Justify more $$$$$$$$.
Maybe America is beginning to realise the seriousness of its errors. You just can’t go forming proxy armies, feeding, arming and inserting them…and then attack them when you feel like it for good news copy. In the end not only will they go after you, they’ll go after you with your own weapons.