That’s the Telegraph subhead on this piece: “Rebels warn that Russian air strikes risk pushing moderates into arms of more powerful extremist groups.”
How many times over the years have we heard this — that too strong action against Islamic jihadists would drive “moderates” into the arms of “extremists”? And suddenly there are “moderates” among the Syrian rebels? Yet former Defense Intelligence Agency director Michael Flynn recently confirmed that the Obama Administration knowingly decided to support al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, and directly enabled the rise of the Islamic State. They did this while proclaiming to the world that they were training and arming “vetted moderates.” Now the Telegraph would have us believe that Syria has been positively crawling with “moderates,” although somehow Obama’s vetting team didn’t notice, and had to opt for supporting al-Qaeda instead.
In reality, the rebels are not by any stretch of the imagination “moderates”: they’re pro-Sharia Islamic jihad terrorists. Remember, the Obama Administration spent $500 million to find and train “moderates” in Syria, and could only come up with fifty trainees. And now we hear from the wretched dhimmi Telegraph that the “moderates” in Syria are becoming “extremist” because of the big bad Russians. Yeah, sure.
“Al-Qaeda fighters evoke Afghan jihad as they promise to turn Syria into graveyard for Russian invaders,” by Louisa Loveluck, Telegraph, October 3, 2015:
Russia’s decision to wade into Syria’s messy war risks pushing more militants into the arms of the country’s powerful al-Qaeda group, according to rebels.
Jabhat al-Nusra, a Syrian al-Qaeda group that has survived through integration with the wider movement which took up arms against leader Bashar al-Assad in 2011, is now one of the most powerful players in Syria’s messy war.
Depicting Moscow’s military support for Mr Assad as tantamount to an invasion, Nusra and other rebel groups say they want to evoke the prolonged and unsuccessful Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a battle in which the modern day al-Qaeda has its roots.
In interviews with the Telegraph, rebels fighting with the Army of Conquest, the coalition fighting around the regime’s northwestern heartlands which includes Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham, described anger among their ranks as Russia’s bombs targeted their positions and caused dozens of civilian deaths.
“They gave people no choice but to join the most powerful force to fight the Russian invasion,” said Abu Yassin al-Homsi, a member of the more moderate Ahrar al-Sham. “We have lost men to Nusra and I know others who want to go.”
One young man, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the boost for Nusra as “inevitable”. “The whole world is watching as Syrians are fighting alone,” he said. “Can you blame my brothers for wanting to join a better group?”
In a video uploaded to the internet on Thursday, Abdullah Al-Muhaisini, a Nusra fighter, promised a similar outcome.
“Russia remains a country whose wings were cut off in the land of the Afghans,” he said. “Today it entered Syria, so Syria will become a graveyard for invaders.”…

Don McKellar says
GEE WILLIKERS — have the Al Qeda “rebels” been coached by Team Obama? Or does it come from MSM’s constant drone of BULLSHIT?
So if Russia doesn’t stop, the Al Qeda mass murdering mad dog jihadis are going to MORPH into Islamic State mass murdering mad dog jihadis?
You have been warned, Putin!
BTW — when is mainstream media going to hold Obama to account for backing and promoting the same pieces of shit who were behind Sept 11 and promoting them as the “good guys” ??? WHAT INSANITY IS THIS?
Godwin says
Putin acts much better than Obama’s pussy-footed in “putting things” right with IS n other AQ groups.
TonysTake says
I don’t buy into the moderate muslim thing. The “Moderate Muslim” is a myth. Kill them all.
Angemon says
Oh, you poor, poor thing – always the victims, aren’t you?
somehistory says
Blame, blame, blame. If they knew about the Bossa Nova, they’d blame that too
Anything to distract from the fact that the beast is beastly and is doing beastly things in a beastly way.
Don’t bomb us for all the killing we are engaging in, or we’ll become bad. Don’t say anything, or we’ll have to kill. Don’t eat, don’t drink, don’t dance or sing or live…unless we give permission…or we’ll do something. And then everyone will be dead and yada yada yada
(Revelation 13)
Raja says
Spot on !!!! That is the psychology of terrorists and you have read it well my friend…
Paul says
So, what’s been the excuse for these ‘moderate’ rebels joining
more ‘extremist’ groups and butchering innocent people all this
time prior to Russian involvement? Rule number 1 – and the only
one you really need to remember – is that these cult members
must never ever be expected to take responsibility for their own
actions. In that case, thank goodness for Russian involvement – and
therefore deflection. Can anyone argue that the MSM has any value
any more whatsoever?
Miao Zedong says
I agree. Timing suggests that the moderate allies might be reluctant to support to openly ISIS. Why is there so much US equipment involved in killing civilians ?
Live matters – don’t you know ?
cs says
And I agree with the Telegraph. IT is a good thing the big bear attacks the sunnis, they will have to face the victimization of these types, who will retaliate, and push Russia to the lap of the Western world in one year time.
gravenimage says
Telegraph: “Rebels warn that Russian air strikes risk pushing moderates into arms of more powerful extremist groups”
………………………….
Yeah–we hear this all the time, that the cause of violent Jihad is resistance to violent Jihad.
I have my issues with Putin, but this is just ludicrous.
Peggy says
I have my issues with all western leaders. At this point in time I have the least issues with Putin because he’s on my side.
Western governments are definitely NOT on my side so I see them as enemy.
Raja says
Obama and the West know so much that they can coach/tutor the WORLD how not to do ANYTHING for the sake of world peace. Having been a spent force for almost a decade they want to preach the same to emulated by others. This president gives the impression that he is a practicing Muslim with lots of taqqiya !!!!! I guess Carson meant much more than “future Muslim president”
Having failed miserably to muster any support for anti IS coalition he wants to help find SOME moderates there. . In an already bloodied military football the West wants to us to see serenity in Syria and elsewhere This is by no means LEADERSHIP !!!!!
pdxnag says
But of course they have never rejected their revered Islam, in all its horrible glory. This is good to know.
Raja says
What the powerful and mighty could not accomplish in ‘peaceful” Islamic nations can be accomplished by the great media whose understanding of Islam has been inept so say the least. Is this a tacit acknowledgement that all Islamic NATIONS ARE PRONE TO PRODUCE terrorists if you are not soft enough? But here you have a case of – if you go in front of the donkey he bites you and if you go behind him he kikes you ! You are damned if you do and you are damned if you don’t !!!
خَليفة says
Note the willingness of those “moderates” to change teams: this indicates an underlying commonality between different groups (Islamic ideology) – the only difference is the name and who is in charge – it’s power and politics.
Hey Putin, here is a plan that will work – give Your Islamic enemies a few days to surrender and hand up weapons. When they don’t, blow up the largest mosque in that area. Give them a few more days to surrender – when they don’t, blow up the next biggest mosque, repeat, expanding into new areas until they surrender, or no mosques left standing.
Rikki H says
Well said, they’d soon start shitting their pants when they have nowhere to grovel to their demon for divine (also known as praying im mosques). Although it kinda baffles me why they don’t loathe Allah seeing as they’re forever getting their asses kicked in war and can’t fight worth a damn.
mortimer says
Robert Spencer wrote: “In a video uploaded to the internet on Thursday, Abdullah Al-Muhaisini, a Nusra fighter, promised a similar outcome.
“Russia remains a country whose wings were cut off in the land of the Afghans,” he said. “Today it entered Syria, so Syria will become a graveyard for invaders.”…
Did anyone else observe that Obama sounds like he’s reading the same script?
Miao Zedong says
“Russia remains a country whose wings were cut off in the land of the Afghans,”
—
I remember how the god-fearing republicans and kuffars blow their wings away with stingers.
Afgans where used as trigger happy jockey. Nothing more.
celticwarriorcanada says
The unphased response by Putin and the Russian Secretary to these Criticisms is almost Comical but very sad! They obviously see through the Obama Administration’s BS. and appear unintimidated by the the U.S. . Its encouraging to hear the Russians call these rebel groups Terrorists when many have tried to pass them off as Moderates . But its sad and disheartening that they do so in the face of a Deceptive Narrative Manufactured And Propagated and supported by people even like John McCain ! It will obviously take a Strong Willed President to bring America back onto the front lines of the world stage to interact with characters like the Russian Wolverine Vladimir Putin .
Miao Zedong says
They see through your POTUS and his EU mignons.Don’t think you are smarter than they are.
Why should they be intimidated by the US ? After all, under the “sovjet label” they didn’t run out of courage but out of money.
The West still has the money and yet lacks the courage. You don’t win war with water canons. Can’t even protect their borders from mass invading tourists with a lust of welfare.
You live in the past. Putin is not the enemy and dead in three decades. He’s the least to worry about while you understandably hope for a stronger leadership I hope for reason to come back in this degenerate, post-modern, superstition infested western world.
God is dead.
Rikki H says
Oh so a few bombings can alter a Muslims entire worldview and personality? If that’s the case, they weren’t moderate to begin with.
I often come across examples of moderate Muslims, suddenly turning into the same kind of screaming lunatic we see at West hating marches on the streets of the UK. The pharmacist at my local chemist is a “moderate Muslim” , I have conversations with her about movies, she is pleasant and polite to all hwr customers, yet bring up the subject of Israel or American foreign policy and I witness an absolute change in her personality. It’s as if she becomes possessed and it makes me think of how many more so called moderate muslims behave like this behind closed doors with their family and Muslim friends.
How exactly is one supposed to tell apart the moderates from extremists especially among the plague of migrants, it’s not like they wear labels. Frankly they’re more of a concern than the ones blatantly declaring their hatred and intentions.
kay says
Re: ” It’s as if she becomes possessed and it makes me think of how many more so called moderate muslims behave like this behind closed doors with their family and Muslim friends.
How exactly is one supposed to tell apart the moderates from extremists especially among the plague of migrants, it’s not like they wear labels…”
———————————–
Yes. That is the whole point. More generally, we simply note that no one can read the minds of any of these people.
They’ll be “reasonable” wrt the things that are not at issue.
But when it comes to religion, politics and society, all bets are off.
This is the great failure of Angela Merkel and others.
And it is so simple. The Europeans are dealing with a huge unknown.
It will bite them. And maybe cut their heads off too.
Germany asked for huge huge trouble. And they’re getting it.
Rikki H says
used to dislike Vladimir Putin, especially the way he gets into bed with countries like Iran. But he’s the one leader currently attacking IS that understands exactly what they’re about and what he’s dealing with. And how can he not when Russia has been dealing with jihadist land grabs in the former Soviet countries like Chechnya and North Ossetia. Why do our leaders assume they know better than him,? He’s the only leader amongst the coalition I’m rooting for, our leaders are clueless, and can’t even see the situation for what it is.
ECAW says
According to this excellent article Putin isn’t attacking IS at all (although he finds it useful to claim he is) but is just defending Russian interests in another part of the country:
http://www.meforum.org/5537/russia-in-syria
Rikki H says
Even so he’s the only leader in this whole mess that acknowledges we are up against Islam and that their end game is Sharia law, if only we had one credible politician in the USA or UK who had the balls to admit that, or could even comprehend the idea…
ECAW says
Has Putin actually acknowledged that “we are up against Islam and that their end game is Sharia law”?
I get the impression that his strategy comes from cynical realpolitik rather than any concern about the religious motivations of his allies and opponents. That said I welcome his involvement because it will hasten polarisation, as I welcome polarisation in the West (because in the coming catastrophe I would rather have my enemy facing me than mingling with my side in disguise).
cs says
A lot of people has been saying that he is against Islam, but once you watch RT youtube channel, you got to ask yourself why so many muzzies flock in there cheering. RT TV champions Islam as a destabilizing device.
But as Putin is attacking sunnis the tide may change, and it may change very fast.
Michael Copeland says
It seems the Telegraph has it both ways. The subhead has: “…pushing moderates into arms of more powerful extremist groups.” The text of the article has: “pushing more militants into the arms ….” Perhaps it is both.
This phrase occurs in the BBC’s uninformative documentary, “The Battle for British Islam”.
“An extreme but non-violent ideology helps push Muslims into the arms of violent extremists”.
It is another of the current red herrings.
See “The BBC’s Useless Waffle About ‘British Islam’” at LibertyGB:
http://libertygb.org.uk/v1/index.php/news-libertygb/6697-the-battle-for-british-islam
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
“An extreme but non-violent ideology helps push Muslims into the arms of violent extremists”.
What the hell? This sentence is profoundly confused and totally disorienting. I’m getting dizzy. Bring whoever wrote this onto the Hannity show and watch Sean’s head explode.
Baucent says
“They gave people no choice but to join the most powerful force to fight the Russian invasion,” said Abu Yassin al-Homsi, a member of the more moderate Ahrar al-Sham.
This sort of revealing comment from a so called “moderate” rebel shows that there is little ideological divide between to so called moderates and the “extremists”. There is no suggestion from the Ahrar al-Sham man that they are secular democrats. They are ALL Islamists of varying degrees and none could be described as friendly to Western values. Any sort of military aid to any of these groups will end badly for Western interests, Israel, Christians and other minorities.
Benedict says
The mess has been created by the western countries. the so called free syrian army get trained by the west and then join with other islamic groups with their arms,ammunation and training. the west is in such a state of denial that there has to be major change in governments. these gruops are are taking the west for a ride. it is good that the russians are bombing them too. there is a legitimate govt in power and any changes should be through talks. assad will remain and so will his govt. the west will be forced to conced.
DP111 says
In related news, air strikes by the Allies, are pushing moderate Germans into the arms of the Nazis.
ECAW says
🙂
d says
Russian air strikes on ISIS are not pretend ones like the ones by the Allies, but meant to hurt not just ISIS but also the terrorists of the West.
This is going to hurt, and ISIS are quite likely running to Europe.
Miao Zedong says
From Putins perspective the US induced destablization of Western Europe may be beneficial strategically. Once the EU falls apart and Turkey as well, fighting the “enemy” within, he may reap the fruits. Reagan’s “Star Wars” drained the Sovjets resources and the current migration will drain western resources. God, what a briiliant scenario and we all are just bystanders and looking straight ahead a the wall rushes towards us – oblivous to the fact that actually we are holding the steering wheel in our hands…
I bet tha once ISIS is nuked into submission the Kurds wil arise as the winner at the expense of Turkey.
Allow me a bit of hybris.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Reagan’s “Star Wars” drained the Sovjets resources and the current migration will drain western resources.
My God, what we have here is organic weapons with craniums on their tips. Self-targeting, too. The good news is that unlike anti-missile ballistic missiles, these new weapons are organic, which are organic. That is green, sustainable. Sustain the cranium-tipped weapons, which when they hit their targets begin voraciously consuming vast amounts of welfare dole and police resources. And it’s not a single blast, it’s a permanent process, one that increases and multiplies once in place. Brilliant, indeed.
duh_swami says
Most likely, those ‘moderate’ Mahoundians already inside Russia will not like Putin siding with Shia and will increase their terror attacks, giving Putin something else to think about…
DP111 says
Russia has a time honoured method of dealing with Muslim recalcitrants. Russia is too large. Whole populations can be swallowed up in Siberia.
Raymond Hietapakka says
Great. All the fence-sitters can line up to die, too. The more the merrier.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
There will be a breaking point in all of this. Sooner or later the Unicorn Moderates will run out of Christian and Yazidi Infidels to murder or force into sex slavery, and then what? This is a looming crisis, because what the Unicorn Moderates will do is herd up and stampede through Greece, which has no money to pay the welfare, and gallop on up to Germany and beyond to find the good life, greener pastures to graze. Angela, Francois, Stefan and David will be all concerned and helpful, but then later the same thing will happen to the Unicorn Moderates that always happens, and the civilized world will be that much more diluted, that much more combustible. The leaders will change, but the situation will only worsen. Welcome the new boss; same as the old boss.
dumbledoresarmy says
Ah yes, resisting Jihad causes Jihad.
A few classic articles from my files on the religion of perpetual outrage.
First, from Hugh Fitzgerald, nine years ago – “Rights”.
http://www.newenglishreview.org/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/2860/Rights
Now, from Daniel Greenfield: “The Dangers of Legitimising Muslim Grievances”
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2011/11/dangers-of-legitimizing-islamic.html
Money quote:
“The fundamental Muslim grievance is that they are not in power, not just in Israel where the world has accepted their demand to be in power as a wholly moral and legitimate demand, or throughout the Muslim world where Western governments have helped bring the Islamists to power with bombs and political pressure. The fundamental grievance is that they are not in power… everywhere.”
Learn that paragraph by heart and keep it grimly in mind, always and everywhere.
Third, Christopher Hitchens, writing the day after the attacks on London in 2005.
I think it’s his best piece of writing. “We Cannot Surrender”.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2005/07/08/we-cannot-surrender-115875-15713152/
“…We know very well what the “grievances” of the jihadists are.
“The grievance of seeing unveiled women. The grievance of the existence, not of the State of Israel, but of the Jewish people. The grievance of the heresy of democracy, which impedes the imposition of sharia law. The grievance of a work of fiction written by an Indian living in London. The grievance of the existence of black African Muslim farmers, who won’t abandon lands in Darfur. The grievance of the existence of homosexuals. The grievance of music, and of most representational art. The grievance of the existence of Hinduism. The grievance of East Timor’s liberation from Indonesian rule. All of these have been proclaimed as a licence to kill infidels or apostates, or anyone who just gets in the way….
“….It is a big mistake to believe this is an assault on “our” values or “our” way of life. It is, rather, an assault on all civilisation…
“They [the jihadis; indeed, the Muslims – dda] demand the impossible – the cessation of all life in favour of prostration before a totalitarian vision….”.
And last but not least, Hugh Fitzgerald again, way back in 2006, addressing this nonsensical stuff about this or that ‘fuelling extremism”.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2006/10/fitzgerald-95-things-that-fuel-muslim-extremism.html
“The American presence in Iraq fuels Muslim extremism.” – a conclusion concluded from the National Intelligence Estimate by many concluders in solemn conclusory conclave assembled.
Ninety-Five Other Things That Also Fuel Muslim Extremism:
1. Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses.”
2. The British government’s protection of Salman Rushdie.
3. The American coup against Mossadegh in 1953, cited by some Iranians as the direct cause of the takeover of Iran by the Ayatollah Khomeini more than 25 years later.
4. The remarks of Pim Fortuyn about Muslim attitudes toward liberal Dutch mores….”.
Click on the link, read the whole thing if you haven’t before. Read on down through Hugh’s list.
It concludes with the following examples of ‘things that fuel Muslim extremism”.
“…86. The continued existence of Jews.
87. The continued existence of Christians.
88. The continued existence of Hindus.
89. The continued existence of Sikhs.
90. The continued existence of Buddhists.
91. The continued existence of followers of Confucius [and of the Tao, and of Shinto].
92. The continued existence of agnostics.
93. The continued existence of atheists.
94. Everything.
95. Nothing.”
ECAW says
Yes all true, summed up in “The fundamental grievance is that they are not in power… everywhere.”
That means we can never hope to coexist without an attempted takeover after a critical mass is reached. And that means we’re not going to get out of this without a fight. Better reconcile ourselves to it.
Rikki H says
You may be right about Putin, I’m just trying to find a silver lining in Syria and given that our leaders refuse to see the connection between IS and Islan and Putin has previously made comments showing that he is far more enlightened than Obamaaand Cameron, I can’t help but hope that he is sincerely trying to destroy IS, because then I can sleep at night believing that at least someone is…..
ECAW says
Why do you want to see ISIS destroyed? It’s widely taken for granted as a good thing but I can’t see it as obviously so.
I hope to see ISIS damage or destroy Islam in its heartland by setting off civil wars in Saudi and Jordan and who knows elsewhere, and outside the Middle East by showing what the authentic Islam of Mohammed and his immediate successors really looks like.
My concerns are for non-Muslims in the area and for Israel. What I really care about is Europe and my concern is only that all out war in the Middle East will likely turn the influx of Muslims into a torrent. If we can only realise that Hungary has it right and put a complete stop to it then Europe has a chance of surviving as Europe.
What happens if peace breaks out in the Middle East and things go back to the way they were? Stealth jihad continues and with the percentage of Muslims doubling every decade we will surely be faced with the alternatives of subjugation or civil war.
What do you think?
Rikki H says
Hugh Fitzgerald has such a way with words he always knows how to cut straight through the bullshit 🙂 I miss his posts doesn’t he post here anymore?
dumbledoresarmy says
Hugh ‘hived off’ from Jihadwatch some years ago and has been pretty heavily involved with a different and complimentary counterjihad / resistance website, New English Review.
http://www.newenglishreview.org
You can find some of his very characteristic writing there, if you search about in their archives.
He’s one of my favourite writers as well. I have e-clippings files stuffed full of his essays and also his off-the-cuff comments from when he used to pitch in here in the comments forum.
TrueStuff says
Mr. Lavrov – the Russian foreign minister summed it up perfectly – ‘if it walks like a terrorist, if it talks like terrorist, it is a terrorist. And that means death from above Russian Sukhoi jet style.
Enough of this USA/UK/France bullshit about moderate rebels etc – there never were any in the first organised anti Assad forces were Libyan Al Queida fighters fresh from deposing Gaddaffi, shipped in by CIA via Turkey border, they even shipped the same weapons used in Libya and paid for by Qatar.
Truth says
The UK is turning into a nation of wimps.
Harry_the_Horrible says
Since those “moderates” are just a determined to overthrow Assad as ISIS, they are fair game.
Of course, they could always ask the Sov, er, Russians and Assad for terms.
In any case, if they are still trying to overthrow Assad, kill ’em all. and don’t worry about sorting them out.
kay says
I read all the responses. Good stuff.
But there is a Very Fundamental Point which must be made here.
Islamic State has 30,000 FOREIGN fighters from NINETY countries.
It’s like a miniature world war. Putin knows that. Everyone can see it. He’s just another foreigner.
Sure Putin is a foreign power tripper and militarist. Sure people need to be afraid of him in Europe and elsewhere. Sure there have been sixty close calls in Eastern Europe over a several month period.
But that’s irrelevant here. Putin is just as “local” as the jihadis from many other countries. There is no legitimate argument against him. Hammer on them instead.
He got his military force projection into this war pretty late.
Maybe he can save Damascus for a while.
But Islamic State has those 30,000 foreign fighters. And they are next to Damascus.
Also, Putin actively defends the minority Christians of Syria. The Christians have taken a huge beating all across Iraq. Somebody is actually fighting their enemies. This can only be is a Very Good Thing.
I much prefer a warlike Christian like Vladimir Putin to a collaborationist such as former Archbishop Rowan Williams or Islam co-religionist Pope Francis. These Christian apologists and collaborationists are worse than useless. They are Vichy Christians.
Putin may be a complete sociopath, but he called it right and he’s doing the right thing in Syria. I almost like this Russian Christian sociopath. As regards Syria, I’m rooting for the very dangerous Russian baddie doing the right thing. So should Christians near or far. Don’t grief Putin on this. Didn’t we work with Stalin before?
Go Putin! Protect Damascus! Save the Syrian minorities! Bomb the jihadis!
A seventh grade kid could understand this. We don’t. Negotiate. With terrorists.
Tropic Thunder Negotiating with Kidnappers/Terrorists