Tag: Syrian Opposition

Notes on Current Developments – January 23, 2014

As talks in Geneva open with Vitriol, Accusations and Acrimony, according to local activists and certain revelations via social media, ISIS, Al-Nusra and the Islamic Front have reportedly reached a deal allowing for the establishment of a joint administration of all rebel-held territories in the country. The agreement calls for the establishment of  High Sharia Commission to supervise the conduct of military operations, assess the legality of agreements reached with members of the international community, provide services in local communities, launch economic development projects, and manage local sharia courts focused on resolving local disputes. If this development is indeed true, then, it comes to underscore the complete disassociation of the political process currently unfolding in Geneva from the realities on the ground.

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Turkey’s Crackdown On Arms Shipments To Syria Could Help Al Qaeda And Harm Moderate Rebels

Turkey’s Crackdown On Arms Shipments To Syria Could Help Al Qaeda And Harm Moderate Rebels – The Daily Beast.

It’s really strange how everything conspired from the very beginning to undermine moderates and support the rise of extremism among the protesters. Assad and his allies needed this, and they worked assiduously for it, but what did the others, Turkey, Saudi, Qatar, U.S., hope to achieve? What do they hope to achieve? Perhaps exactly what’s happening today. The “mistakes” that led to this are simply too numerous and consistent to be ascribed to chance. No, I am not endorsing some conspiracy, but the political agendas that crisscrossed the Syrian map have always been intricate and complex. There is always a bargain involved in supporting regime change in a country like Syria. In this case, there were simply too many of them. The opposition failure to understand this and to be more proactive about it helped pave the way as well to this worst of outcomes. And it’s far from over.

Notes on Current Developments in Syria: January 11, 2014

The battle between Islamist rebel groups and Al-Qaeda’s affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is intensifying, but there is more going on than the increasing number of casualties and bodies of the injured piling up in the hospital.

The way the battle is unfolding indicates that carving up territories is what’s stake at this stage than achieving a straight out victory of one side over the other. This might not have been the intention at the beginning, but this is where things seem to be heading at this stage on account of the logistics involved, the actual military capabilities of each side, and the involvement of the regime in the matter, which, as expected, is working out in favor of ISIS, in the city of Elbab north of Aleppo, for instance, the regime resumed bombardment of the city as soon as ISIS was kicked out, allowing ISIS troops to halt their retreat, regroup and lay siege to the city. This may not be highlighted by the media at this stage, but this is what activists on the ground are reporting.

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War and peace in Syria: Where are the good guys?

War and peace in Syria: Where are the good guys? | The Economist.

The Economist Asks: “WHAT to do when the party you have been backing loses sway?” But that’s not the right question. The right question is: WHAT to do when the party you have promised to back but eventually didn’t, at least not in any meaningful way, loses sway? In other words, what to do when you have fucked up big time? The good news: the good guys are still there, but, as has always been the case, they need support. You can’t turn your back on them, then, wonder where they are?