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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRobert Parry: Should US Ally with Al Qaeda in Syria?
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/10/02/should-us-ally-al-qaeda-syriaWhat the Times didnt say in that context was that Nusra Front is Al Qaedas affiliate in Syria, an omission perhaps explained because this additional information would disrupt the righteous tone of the article, accusing Russia of bad faith in attacking rebel groups other than the Islamic State.
But the Russians had made clear their intent was to engage in airstrikes against the mélange of rebel groups in which Al Qaeda as well as the Islamic State played prominent roles. The Times and the rest of the mainstream U.S. media are just playing games when they pretend otherwise.
Plus, the reality about Syrias splintered rebel coalition is that it is virtually impossible to distinguish between the few moderate rebels and the many Sunni extremists. Indeed, many moderates, including some trained and armed by the CIA and Pentagon, have joined with Al Qaedas Nusra Front, even turning over U.S. weapons and equipment to this affiliate of the terrorist organization that attacked New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001. Lest we forget it was that event that prompted the direct U.S. military intervention in the Middle East.
However, in recent months, the Israeli government and its American neoconservative allies have been floating trial balloons regarding whether Al Qaeda could be repackaged as Sunni moderates and become a de facto U.S. ally in achieving a regime change in Syria, ousting President Bashar al-Assad who has been near the top of the Israeli/neocon hit list for years.
A key neocon propaganda theme has been to spin the conspiracy theory that Assad and the Islamic State are somehow in cahoots and thus Al Qaeda represents the lesser evil. Though there is no evidence to support this conspiracy theory, it was even raised by Charlie Rose in his 60 Minutes interview last Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The reality is that the Islamic State and Al Qaeda have both been leading the fight to destroy the secular Assad government, which has fought back against both groups.
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Robert Parry: Should US Ally with Al Qaeda in Syria? (Original Post)
eridani
Oct 2015
OP
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)1. US should let Russia take care of Syria.
Haven't we done enough damage with our 'nation-building'?
Shandris
(3,447 posts)2. I thought it was pretty well assumed that...
...rebels/al-Nusra/al qaeda were the same people and we'd been doing this for a while now. Hence Russia and China.
That pipeline must be real important.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)3. Parry. LOL...nt
Sid