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Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Al-Qaeda rebrands itself as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a “moderate” alternative to the Islamic State

Sep 13, 2017 7:00 am By Robert Spencer

The astonishing aspect of this is that mainstream Western analysts will fall for it. After all, they have gotten behind the idea that the Muslim Brotherhood is “moderate” because it doesn’t usually resort to violence in order to further its goal of implementing Sharia. The fact that the Brotherhood and groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State — and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, for that matter — have the same goal, Sharia imposed everywhere, isn’t important to them at all.

“Al-Qaeda rebrands: Terrorist group rebounds under a new name – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – as it positions itself as a ‘moderate’ alternative to ISIS,” AFP, September 11, 2017:

Al-Qaeda is on the rise again in the shadow of the Islamic State group in Syria, experts say.

The news comes 16 years after the jihadists shocked the United States in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Sunni group that last month seized control of the northern Syrian city of Idlib, is simply a ‘rebranding’ of Al-Qaeda that is positioning itself as more moderate than the Islamic State in hopes of a resurgence, according to experts….

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Filed Under: Al-Qaeda Tagged With: Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham


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Comments

  1. Shazza says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 7:41 am

    ‘SHAM’ describes this group perfectly.

  2. ElderlyZionist says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 8:14 am

    Masks, black flag, that booger-finger tawhid salute…nope. Same Jihad, Different Day.

  3. gerard says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 8:17 am

    They’re moderate. They’ll only behead you once.

    • LeftisruiningCanada says

      Sep 15, 2017 at 12:17 am

      🙂

  4. Dawn Davenport says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 9:02 am

    I’m sure they are now lovable, huggable and trustworthy as a CAIR bear.

  5. Jack Diamond says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    Of course, ISIS was al Qaeda under another name, too. Al Qaeda was just a title for a network of likeminded jihadi groups. The ever changing name game is so much sleight of hand that (they know) greatly confuses the infidels who believe they are each wholly independent actors. Not proxies for wealthy Muslim states…. and who only see themselves as part of a global jihad that is Fighting in Allah’s Cause (as set forth in the Qur’an and Sunnah).

    In this case it is HaTeS. No doubt they will be lobbying Washington to arm them, now that they’ve seen the light of moderation. Next up for al Qaeda Mach 4, the marketing of Kid Laden. They’ll be hiring one of our top public relations firms soon, the same ones the Saudis and the UAE get so much out of.

    Rebranding! Soon you will forget all about all that ancient history because Jennifer Aniston and Hamze will be dating.

    • Jack Diamond says

      Sep 13, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      Hamza. I hate ruining a perfectly good joke with misspelling.

  6. SK says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Relevant:
    http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-yakuza-is-rebranding-as-a-humanitarian-organization

    Yakuza Revolution: From Bruisers to Boy Scouts?
    JAKE ADELSTEIN
    09.03.17 12:00 AM ET

    TOKYO—Japan’s yakuza may finally be changing. After years in the shadows, degenerating into purely criminal organizations, one yakuza group formed this April looks like it’s trying to go legitimate—and more. It wants to become a “humanitarian organization” that keeps the peace and at least limits its criminal activity to the traditional tacitly socially approved rackets. Publicly, at least, it’s aiming for a rep as the Boy Scouts of the underworld.

  7. Mockingjay says

    Sep 13, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    So, what I want to know – are these moderate jihadists also created by the Jews?

    Or are these ones the real deal according to popular muslim opinion?

    • Jack Diamond says

      Sep 13, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      Popular muslim opinion is created by the Jews. Allah is the voice in the refrigerator. Listen to him.

  8. Matthieu Baudin says

    Sep 14, 2017 at 2:59 am

    “… Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Sunni group that last month seized control of the northern Syrian city of Idlib, is simply a ‘rebranding’ of Al-Qaeda that is positioning itself as more moderate than the Islamic State in hopes of a resurgence…”

    The multi-headed hydra; emanating from militant traditional Islam and ready to strike every day of the year from any point on the globe. We should only do deals with truly reformed Muslim organisations and as well as those who have left the faith.

  9. UNCLE VLADDI says

    Sep 14, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Generally muslims are taught to prefer violent jihad over stealth jihad so the two concepts aren’t equally valid:

    Treaties with muslims will always fail. Their hudna doctrine demands that they break all treaties with infidels as soon as they can gain the upper hand and have a better chance to succeed through violence. See Pact of Umar.

    Besides, muslim infiltration is no more “peaceful” or lawful than any other kind of parasitic infection!

  10. Mickey says

    Sep 19, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Changing a name doesn’t make it any different. It just makes people blinded to what they used to be. Just like Obama and Acorn. Now Acorn is spun off into little groups.

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