The U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army — those are the “moderates,” you know. How moderate? This moderate: in July 2013, Free Syrian Army fighters entered the Christian village of Oum Sharshouh and began burning down houses and terrorizing the population, forcing 250 Christian families to flee the area. Worthy News reported that just two days later, Free Syrian Army rebels “targeted the residents of al-Duwayr/Douar, a Christian village close to the city of Homs and near Syria’s border with Lebanon….Around 350 armed militants forcefully entered the homes of Christian families who were all rounded-up in the main square of the village and then summarily executed.” And in September 2013, a day after Secretary of State John Kerry praised the Free Syrian Army as “a real moderate opposition,” the FSA took to the Internet to post videos of its attack on the ancient Syrian Christian city of Maaloula, one of the few places where Aramaic, the language of Jesus, is still spoken.
This is just the faction Obama is backing. This is America’s shame.
“West bankrolls Free Syrian Army fightback,” by Tom Coghlan and Norhan Keshik for The Times via The Australian, February 8:
THE West and Gulf states are funding a new military offensive by rebel forces around Damascus in an effort to throw the Assad regime on to the back foot before a second round of Syria peace talks.
The assault marks an attempt by the Free Syrian Army and its allies abroad to reassert control after months of rebel infighting.
The timing of the attack, codenamed “Geneva Horan”, comes amid fears Bashar al-Assad will give little ground at the negotiating table while he has the upper hand on the battlefield.
FSA forces yesterday posted online videos of rebel tanks, heavy mortars and rocket launchers pounding what were said to be government positions on highways near the town of Athman, north of the city of Daraa, close to the Jordanian border.
The attack involving 18 rebel brigades was accompanied by a fresh influx of money and weaponry channelled through Jordan, where the US has established a training base for the FSA, say rebel field commanders. It includes $57 million in cash to pay the rebels.
Monzer Akbik, a spokesman for the rebel Syrian National Coalition, refused to be drawn into specifics. “There are things that are better not to be announced,” he said. “I don’t really want to go into the details of funding. We have friends – our friends in the West and our brothers in the Gulf.”…
The FSA has been seen as an increasingly peripheral presence on the battlefield while Gulf powers including Saudi Arabia and Qatar channelled the lion’s share of funding and weapons to hardline religious factions such as the Islamic Front. Late last month, the US approved a supply of a big shipment of arms to rebels in Jordan….
Powerful jihadist groups announced their own northern offensive yesterday. The Islamic Front, an alliance of factions that includes the al-Qa’ida-aligned al-Nusra Front, declared the start of “Operation Truthful Promise Approaches” in Aleppo yesterday….
Champ says
The more violent they are, the more devout …since the unholy quran is replete with hatred and violence towards Christians and Jews.
quovadis2014 says
“They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind”
voegelinian says
“quovadis2014” should make up his mind. Just a couple of days ago, he wrote:
The mere fact that the FSA and ISIS are fighting it out to the death in Syria is evidence that it’s moderates vs extremists.
flusem says
Fuelling instability in Syria and ensuring a weak future regime, is probably the best we can do for now.
thomas_h says
““quovadis2014″ should make up his mind.”
He should be asked in clear and unambiguous manner: “quo vadis, quovadis?”
Kepha says
Groooooan!!!! In the immortal words of Charlie Brown…
AAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHH!
Diplomad 2.0 talks about how our Western world (with the apparent exceptions of Canada, Australia, and Israel) seems to be run by clowns at present.
Unfortunately, the clowns running my own poor country are now leading their nation of sheep into a struggle supporting the wonderful people who gave us 9/11. How come all those militant pacifists of yesteryear aren’t exercised about this?
voegelinian says
There are plenty of clowns in the Counter-Jihad, too. But that’s okay; as long as they repeat the right phrases, all is forgiven.
Larry A. Singleton says
Is it my imagination, or do I have to “subscribe” or “pay” to get access to this article? Just askin’. (Sounds like Glenn Beck)
The Australian
“PREMIUM CONTENT
To access premium content, please log in or set up a subscription. It’s quick and easy.”
“five bucks a month?” F— this shit.
Larry A. Singleton says
I truly, truly believe the “solution” to our Traitor in Chief and corrupt Assembly and Congress can be found in Vince Flynn’s book “Term Limits”. Everybody should read it. Pass it along to their kids and encourage them to join the Special Forces. Where is Scott Coleman when we need him?
Charli Main says
America and Europe, turkeys paying for and supporting Christmas and Thanks Giving.
Simon says
Regarding Syria – ever since the Saudis and OPEC agreed to only sell their oil for US dollars and to not accept any other currency, the US gov. policy makers have been beholden to these Sunni string-pullers. The world needs a strong, Constitutionally governed US, but the Constitution and Sharia are mutually exclusive. Perhaps the only thing keeping the dollar from collapse is the “petrodollar” trade, but the hard won freedoms of the West should never be curtailed by those seeking to spread totalitarianism.
mortimer says
Hillary and Obama are given a free ride by leftish journalists. Through their gross and criminally negligent ignorance of Islamic doctrines, they have encouraged the Syrian rebellion that is ethnically cleansing Christians from the Near East.
Obama seems to think he can ride the tiger of jihad.
John Alexander says
Where the hell are the “Not in our name” crowd when you need them?
I’d say it’s unbelieveable, but I’ve been using that word way too much recently.
Incidentally, there’s a great take on an alternative way of tackling Islam peacefully. It’s in a post aclled, “Pied Piper Tony” at:
http://john-moloney.blogspot.com/2014/02/pied-piper-tony.html
Karliner says
Sigh, the American government is going to bring and has brought the wrath of the Almighty on us, and with Kerry doing his best to make Israel a big Warsaw, I feel these ‘leaders” , well, my granny dynamite would say,” Hell, they don’t know their ass from an apple cart. Stay away from them or you’ll get in the fray.”
Sadly they’re our LEADERS! Lord help us , the real American’s
JOHN DIETRICH says
These are John McCain’s heroes. They may massacre Christians and even cannibalize them, but they do it in a moderate fashion. These “moderates” are flocking to Syria from all over the Middle East and the West. They will be trained. The will return home and practice their moderation at home. THEY WILL RETURN HOME AND PRACTICE THEIR MODERATION AT HOME. Remember that.
Vijay Patel says
I am not surprised they trained mujahdin in Porkistan/ Affghanistan
alan mccamnon says
Try nuking the scum,USA & UK have plenty of nukes lying around.Take jahad to them 1000 fold.
Californian4Syria says
This news is disturbing in light of the fact President Obama just met with King Abdullah of Jordan in Palm Springs, CA. The gest of this meeting? February 2014 was to promise Jordan $1 billion in aid for refugee support, the refugees that the NATO/CIA – USA/Israel/Saudi proxy armies (aka paid terrorists) are making from wrecking havoc on the beautiful and democratic nation of Syria.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/politics/syria-is-expected-to-be-main-topic-as-obama-meets-with-king-of-jordan.html
Of course Obama promised $1 billion to Jordan after he gave a paltry $160 million in drought aid for the farmers of Central California then beelines to Palm Springs where they use more water per capita because of all the golf courses. Nice going Obama you are closer to being the biggest failure in the history of the presidency.
BTW you will never destroy Syria the people are united with their motherland and to each other. They don’t want to be under sharia law and answer to a bunch of non-Syrians. President Dr. Al Assad is very respected and educated unlike our sad pathetic leaders that barely speak 1 language these leaders like Assad (who is educated as a physician) Putin, Lavrov speak more than 3 languages have military backgrounds and banking education.
When was the last time we had a leader in the USA that could speak more than 1 language?