Syria, The Next Phase

Last month, ARRA News Service examined Syria and Libya. Today, we note the growing strength of Syrian president Assad and both the Russians and the United States interest in seeking to get rid of the radical rebels in Syria: the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra.  Al-Nusra radicals are allegedly producing chemical weapons in Turkey and are definitely seen by Turkey as being a serious threat to Turkey, a U.S. ally. The distractions of the U.S. partial government shutdown and discussions on a continuing resolution and the debt ceiling appears to have provided President Obama and his administration a reprieve -- a cooling off period -- from its previous request to use drones to target Syria.  And this same period has permitted the revelation of the greater threat being al-Qaeda linked terrorists and the growing stability of President Assad in Syria.

Alleged Radical al-Nusra Terrorist

Inside Intelligence - Watch now as the original Syrian rebels float back to Assad, who becomes the “savior” of Syria and the only force capable of dealing with the radical, al-Qaeda-linked elements.

Analysis: The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is disintegrating quickly, with its original, legitimate rebel members dealing with the Assad regime and making a clean break with the radical “rebel” forces connected with al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra. Key FSA rebels from Aleppo are said to be meeting with a representative of the Assad regime in Damascus to talk peace. The deal in the works would see the reopening of public institutions in Aleppo (like schools) in areas controlled by rebel forces and possibly in parts of Homs province. The al-Nusra forces have recently launched some high-profile, very bloody attacks on Christian churches and villages, and its growing desperation in the wake of a US decision to back down from strikes on Syria is likely to lead to more such incidents. These incidents do not sit well with the moderate members of the FSA—the original Syrian rebels fighting Assad.

Summary: What is happening, essentially, is that growing numbers of rebels—disillusioned by the inaction by the West — are joining the ranks of the radical al-Nusra, and this is turn is causing the original, moderate rebels to become fearful of the implications and choose Assad as the lesser evil. What is also happening is that Russia, the US and Iran are increasingly on the same side in Syria — they are all interested in getting rid of the al-Nusra plague. And the kingmaker now, suddenly, will be Assad, who will likely be re-empowered to help get rid of al-Qaeda. So another enemy becomes a game-changing ally in the Middle East. As put most succinctly recently by a Kremlin voice, this is no longer a war between the government and opposition,
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Background Source: Inside Intelligence with ISA Intel, OilPrice.com Premium Newsletter. The above information is provided by an OilPrice.com subscription service to the Editor of ARRA News Service.

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