Posted on 08/31/2013 10:36:48 AM PDT by kristinn
An anticipated U.S.-led strike on Syria has not only put government forces on alert, it has also alarmed rebels, in particular Islamist groups linked to al Qaeda who worry they too are targets.
The United States said on Friday it was planning a limited response to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a "brutal and flagrant" chemical weapons attack it says killed more than 1,400 people in Damascus two weeks ago.
But Islamist rebels are wary, particularly experienced foreign militants who have joined their ranks and may have seen at first-hand U.S. military campaigns and drone strikes on al Qaeda fighters across the region.
Islamist forces have cleared many of their bases of fighters, vehicles and weaponry, according to rebels and sources close to Qaeda-linked fighters.
"Of course we've been moving our fighters and equipment. Do you think we trust the Americans?" said a fighter from the moderate Islamist rebel group called Liwa al-Islam, speaking by Skype from a suburb outside the capital Damascus.
"They gave Assad two weeks' notice to clear his bases. We know we're the real target."
Al Qaeda-linked groups such as the Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) appear to be taking even more extensive and secretive measures.
"ISIL has evacuated many of its centers, mainly in northern and eastern Syria. They've increased security for the emirs (leaders), changing their locations and their cars - they fear homing chips could have been placed in the cars," said a source in Lebanon who is close Qaeda-linked groups in Syria.
Charles Lister, an analyst at IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency center, said there was nothing to indicate Western plans for an attack on such groups in Syria right now.
"But they are essentially hedging their bets. There's too much to lose...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
The rebels think they’re targets? BS! They are covering for their number one supporter.
It is not nonsense. Are you able to read? These are well discussed issues at the G-8 and G-20 OK? Families and tribes involved. And if you think the Russians don’t operate this way you are sadly mistaken.
You want to believe what you want— go ahead. This is realpolitik. And rather easy to confirm if you have business contacts to do so. You know, inside the Beltway and not the Israeli lobby. And not some dumbass 1%er protesters wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.
Take some time and study transcripts of EU sessions and read some more. The Saudis are calling obamaumaos shots—quite simply. And why? Because they cannot allow the Iranians to be top dog. Nor can they allow the US to develop shale oil. OK?
You may not like it, and that is OK too, cause I don’t either. Deo Vindice.
Beg to differ. Yes, it is the Saudis who are pulling his strings. Half of them, anyway -- the foreign policy half (the native Commies are calling the domestic tune).
But it's not the Saudi government. It's the Saudi moneymen who are bankrolling the Muslim Brotherhood. The Saudi government is antithetical to the MB -- it represents a threat to the royal family.
Yet, in every single action in a Muslim country, Obama has acted to promote the interest of the radical Islamists -- the factions related to the Muslim Brotherhood. Be it Egypt, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, etc., he acts to promote the MB's position.
The Saudi government would never support nor approve of such activity.
Recall, as well, that among his first acts as President was to tacitly support the regime in Iran -- as he steadfastly refused to criticize the mullahs while they were experiencing an insurrection.
And the MB doesn't give a damn about shale oil (though the Saudi government sure as hell does). Obama hasn't yet done anything effective to block it.
Beg to differ. Yes, it is the Saudis who are pulling his strings. Half of them, anyway -- the foreign policy half (the native Commies are calling the domestic tune).
But it's not the Saudi government. It's the Saudi moneymen who are bankrolling the Muslim Brotherhood. The Saudi government is antithetical to the MB -- it represents a threat to the royal family.
Yet, in every single action in a Muslim country, Obama has acted to promote the interest of the radical Islamists -- the factions related to the Muslim Brotherhood. Be it Egypt, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, etc., he acts to promote the MB's position.
The Saudi government would never support nor approve of such activity.
That's what they want you to think.
#2: Shirley you are Syrious about this situation.
Loved Leslie Nielson.
So if Obama goes to war would that make him a “Syrial” Killer?
It’s not about natural gas, kiddo.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia don’t need Syrian land for a gas pipeline, and Syria’s hydrocarbon resources are insignificant to the world stage.
You bought into an internet legend...the same internet mythology that claims that Afghanistan, of all places, was about “blood for oil.”
You got duped.
Syria *does* have the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas fighting Assad, however, which are two of the groups who also oppose the Egyptian Army and the Egyptian people...which is yet another war that is **NOT** about oil or natural gas.
Now, the mark of a real man is how he changes course (or not) after he’s been shown that he’s been duped.
If you are still in denial, then that’s bad.
If you suddenly “get it,” then that’s good.
Your choice.
Did you catch that 0bama named his new dog “Sunni” as in radical Muslim, while the news media reports the dog’s name as “Sunny”?!
He is not trusted by Right and Left, by rich and poor, by all Muslims, either Autocratic rulers or Jihadi rulers, Christians or seculars, by whites and blacks, by Jew (Israeli) or Muslim, by Liberals or Conservatives, by enemies and allies, by leaders or followers. How was this man elected?
Aren’t you tired of that term, “hijacked”? They’re always saying that. Oh, yes, Islam was Hijacked by the radicals. If not for the radicals, Islam would be a religion of peace, right?
Nothing is hijacked here. Extremist/Moderate, terrorist/rebel, terrorist/militant, they’re all the same.
Drop the concept of “hijacked”, enough already...
By the ptb in the Republican Party giving us candidates who were not trusted conservatives and couldn't articulate a conservative, constitutional vision.
You don’t explain why the Russians have such high stakes in Syria? You don’t think the speculation articles about Putin being granted rights to Syrian energy production is credible? Right now Russia is providing military hardware as a cash advance to Assad. Putin isn’t making any money unless Assad comes out on top. How would you explain their relationship otherwise?
I don't think the Islamists have anything to fear from Obama except the hazards of friendly fire.
Obama may want to tilt the playing field where the seculrists can get back in the lead and take the fight to Assad and marginalize the salafists.
I've got a bridge to sell you if you believe this. Obama nearly cried when the Egyptian Army kicked out Morsi and took on the MB. Benghazi seems to be best understood as a Libya to Syria weapons transfer operation agreed to by the Turks.
How can we believe that Obama really wants to support the secularist elements of the Syrian rebels? He hasn't even said a harsh word about the treatment of Christians by the rebels.
If we had a rational leader concerned with our safety and interests, what you are saying here would make sense. But our leaders have repeatedly demonstrated that they have another agenda. When Obama did his bowing apology tour, it started with a very deep bow to the Saudi king. After that drew some adverse publicity, he bowed to everyone else, like it was his custom (remember the picture of a bemused Japanese?). But, when he bowed to the Saudis, he meant it. It was a sign of religious respect to the leader of the 57 states.
Speakin of the House of Saud— which controls the “saudi government” whatever that may be, indeed antithetical to the MB in the long run (and the short one). The moneymen all kow tow to the Saud- who are demonstrably chicken of the radicals and hence pay off the madrassahs and maybe the MB for all we know.Speaking mostly of the ones who live in Geneva.
I see your point on other levels, and interesting.
Good possiblity— plans within plans, as they buy off the madrassas and the MB... whatever it takes to keep control of the House of Saud’s holdings.
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