that is the Free Republic dogma. Originally, the “rebels’ were syrians including defecting officers and soldiers of the syrian military. their HQ was in turkey just over the border. their objective was overthrowing Assad
There was a coalition including the USA, Turkey, Jordan and the GCC arabs.
For reasons I do not know Obama abandoned the group and it pretty much fell apart and ISIS took over the attaack on Syria and Iraq. I suspect Obama had no clue to what was in process and abandoned the effort...... 2014 i think, but perhaps earlier. The effort in this thread is the result of Obama declaring the coalition was reformed. What happened was Obama finally realized he had screwed up big time and rejoined the group
There are rebels not AQ or ISIS, in spite of what the FR dogma says otherwise
Regardless, if the rebels win they will institute a sharia-compliant islamic dictatorship. Assad is no angel, but he is far better than the alternative.
Muslims can only be governed by mass-murdering secular strongmen. The only other alternative is extermination.
The rebels are all Sunni jihadis that want to establish a sunni theocracy. 100% of them are bad.
The only Americans who think otherwise are the ones horny for another war.
I find the situation in Syria very confusing. The mixing of group names, how loyalties change, at times is a mystery. I sometimes wonder if that is what the powers that be want us to be - confused..