Global Campaign of Solidarity with the Syrian Revolution https://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Campaign-of-Solidarity-with-the-Syrian-Revolution/147353662105485
* * <https://www.facebook.com/events/176697015820498/?ref=22> *MAY 31st - GLOBAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE SYRIAN REVOLUTION<https://www.facebook.com/events/176697015820498/?ref=22> * May 31 <https://www.facebook.com/events/calendar/2013/May/31> Beirut, Lebanon<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beirut-Lebanon/106188806084417> in Beirut, Lebanon<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beirut-Lebanon/106188806084417> Join <https://www.facebook.com/events/176697015820498/> · 1,732 people are going May 31 - Global Day of Solidarity with the Syrian Revolution from Montreal https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B-WWJfWqi0E *------------------------------------------* *AQSA Mosque in Jerusalem chanting against Hezbollah today, "we are all the same religion"* *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v..*.<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjF3dlFV3WI> ----------------------------------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pbIcqTMVoTc A TRULY SURREAL SCENE. A MAN IS BEING DUG FORM HIS WOULD BE GRAVE AND FLASHES A VICTORY SIGN. Damascus (Sbineh): May 22, 2013 - His home was shelled by Asasds forces and it cam crashing down on him. Locals are digging him out of what could have been his grave, as he is still trapped and being rescued he sees the camera and flashes a victory sign. There are few words. Actually there are no words on Earth to describe the resilience of the people of Syria in the face of Assads brutality. This is why Syrians will defeat Assad. This is why we will eventually be free. ------------------------------------------------ Syria Today: Assad Plays the Pan-Arab Card<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2013/5/24/syria-today-assad-plays-the-pan-arab-card.html> inShare Friday, May 24, 2013 at 8:19 | Scott Lucas<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/author/scott-lucas> in EA Live <http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/category/ea-live>, EA Middle East and Turkey<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/category/ea-middle-east-and-turkey> , Middle East and Iran<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/category/middle-east-and-iran> *Anti-regime rally in Bustan al-Qasr section of Aleppo on Friday* http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0t-RFBHX8LI* * ------------------------------ *Trying to counter moves for an international conference --- including Arab States --- to force President Assad from power, the Syrian regime has played its own Arab card.* * In a meeting with a Tunisian delegation on Thursday<http://sana.sy/eng/21/2013/05/24/483748.htm>, Assad "stressed the important role which the national and pan-Arab parties and forces can play in facing extremist and takfiri [apostate] thinking and confronting the foreign plots targeting the Arab people". Assad's declaration came as the Friends of Syria coalition, which includes Arab States, Turkey, the US, and European countries, renewed its call for the President's departure after a meeting in Jordan. Elements of the Syrian opposition are in the midst of a three-day meeting setting out its plans for a political transition * *Assad countered with an assertion of the "the necessity of adhering to the Arab principles and identity and the values of Arabism to stand up to the changes witnessed in the Arab arena".* ------------------------------ *Insurgent Takeover of Regime Base* More claimed footage of the insurgent takeover of a major regime base in Idlib Province, noted in EA's coverage on Thursday: Syria Idlib Armoured Unit Camp Captured by FSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PZv-gGYwRK0 *Russia Elevates Regime, Denounces Opposition Over International Confernence * The Russian Foreign Ministry has praised the Assad regime<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/05/20135248428250959.html> for agreeing in principle to attend an international peace conference, while claiming that the opposition is blocking efforts for a resolution. "We note with satisfaction that we have received an agreement in principle from Damascus to attend the international conference, in the interest of Syrians themselves finding a political path to resolve the conflict, which is ruinous for the nation and region," Alexander Lukashevich said. Lukashevich said last week's UN General Assembly resolution that praised the opposition and condemned President Assad's forces has "essentially pushed [the opposition] to reject negotiations": ** *Demands to immediately name a specific date for the conference without having clarity about who, and with what authority, will speak in the name of the opposition, cannot be taken seriously.* The opposition Syrian National Coalition has said it will only go to the conference if Assad steps down as President, a condition rejected by Moscow. *Casualties* The Local Coordination Committees claim 86 people were killed on Thursday, including 27 in Damascus and its suburbs, 18 in Aleppo Province, and 14 in Homs Province. The Violations Documentation Center <https://www.vdc-sy.info/index.php/en/> reports that 61,372 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since March 2011, an increase of 103 from Thursday. Of the deaths, 47,819 were civilians, a rise of 58 from yesterday. Sheikh al-Yaqoubi Elected to the NCits first non-Brotherhood-aligned religious figure<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/sheikh-al-yaqoubi-elected-to-the-nc/>Posted by Matthew Barber on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 *The Rise of the Sufis* *[image: Matthew Barber]* by Matthew Barber*This story first appeared onSyria Comment<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/sheikh-al-yaqoubi-elected-to-the-nc> * *Newly-elected to the Syrian National Coalition, Sheikh Mohammad al-Yaqoubi is moderate, influential, and ready to go to work* >From the beginning of the uprising, mainstream Syrian Sunni *ulema*the traditional scholars who have spoken for Islam for centuries and who most Syrians recognize as the quintessential voices for religious interpretationhave been marginalized in the Syrian opposition, as Islamists of Salafi and Muslim Brotherhood persuasion steamrolled their way to dominance in both the SNC and the National Coalition. But an emerging Sufi current within the Syrian resistance could soon provide an alternative to Muslim Brotherhood hegemony and change the dynamics of the political opposition. Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi has just been elected to the National Coalition, the first figure of the Sufi *ulema* to break through the Islamist exclusivity that has kept them out until now. His appointment will be announced shortly at a National Coalition conference. Along with other Sufi sheikhs, al-Yaqoubi is heading up efforts to solidify a Sufi bloc of political leadership and nationalist-oriented rebel groups fighting in Syria who give allegiance to the leadership of Sufi *ulema*. He also supports efforts to train Syrian rebels in Jordan. Early on in the uprising, the Muslim Brotherhood worked to dominate the political opposition. The SNC primarily consisted of parties loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood. The National Coalition was later created to break this one-sided disparity, but ended up being dominated by others with Muslim Brotherhood connections, as well. [image: Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi] Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi While this was the reality of the external opposition, an imbalance also formed on the ground inside Syria, as Islamist rebels received more foreign support and rose to prominence. Sheikh al-Yaqoubi feels that the U.S. made the mistake of leaving of the Syrian file to the regional powers, which allowed this trend to intensify as Gulf powers targeted Islamist groups with their aid. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been primarily involved in arming rebels, but the Saudis recently pulled back their level of support. They have an ambivalent relationship with Islamist movements; on the one hand, they support the proliferation of one of the most extreme and anti-Sufi forms of Islam, Wahhabism, throughout the Muslim world. Simultaneously, they fear Islamist movements such as the MB who pose a political threat to monarchy. As the character of the militarized opposition has evolved increasingly toward Islamism, with a recent climax of Jabhat al-Nusra announcing allegiance to al-Qaida and declaring an Islamic state in Syria<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/al-qaida-and-jabhat-al-nusra-declare-islamic-state-in-syria/>, reports suggested that the Saudis decided to cut off support they had been offering. Declining aid, however, has ironically resulted in the end of much of the support that nationalist-oriented rebels were receiving, and many rebels havecomplained <http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S3009269.shtml?cat=0> that the remaining contributions from Qatar<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-02/qatar-attention-starved-teen-of-the-middle-east.html> are reaching only the Islamist fighters. Continuing trends solidifying Islamist domination of both the political and military oppositions have further weakened the desire of the international community for intervention in Syria, though the fact that several regions are now controlled by al-Qaida-linked groups has prompted some to call for the preparation of a drone strategy for Syria, prompting fears that it will end up looking like another Afghanistan. Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubis entrance into the political opposition marks a development running counter to the dominant Islamist trend. Al-Yaqoubi is respected as one of the leading scholars and Sufi clerics in Syria, and has beenranked <http://themuslim500.com/e2012/current-edition> as the second-most influential Muslim religious figure of the country. The brand of Islam he represents is expressed in a statement of sympathy<https://www.facebook.com/shaykhabulhuda/posts/10151546222912580> he issued following the Boston Bombing. He studied in the West and is fluent in English and Swedish. Traditional *ulema* like Sheikh al-Yaqoubi served for centuries as the interpreters of Islamic sources and traditions, but after the fall of the last Islamic empire, the process of modernization that accompanied the rise of the nation state presented a challenge to their role of traditional authority. The erosion of their power was further aggravated by the emergence of Islamist movements like the Muslim Brotherhood who introduced new interpretations of Islamic texts, contrary to the classical traditions that had existed for centuries. Under the Baathists, some of Syrias *ulema* became seen as coopted figures who stayed close to the regime and lent it legitimacy. Others however, remained at arms length from the regime, and when the uprising began, they asserted their criticism of it, as did Sheikh al-Yaqoubi. In addition to his widespread recognition among Syrias majority Sunni Muslims, his credibility is bolstered by being the cleric who issued the first *fatwa* against Bashar al-Assad, in July of 2011. After publically criticizing the regimes violence against demonstrators in two sermons delivered at mosques in April and May 2011, he fled Syria and issued his *fatwa* against the regime. Sheikh al-Yaqoubi represents the kind of moderate, traditional Islam that most Syrians are familiar with, the Islam challenged by both the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists. Though taking an unambiguous stance against the regimes violence, injustice, and terror, he also continues to exert his influence encouraging rebels to avoid terrorism through *fatwas* condemning tactics such as car-bombings, kidnapping, landmines, the killing of prisoners, and violence against non-combatants politically aligned with the regime. Sheikh al-Yaqoubi has combatted the*fatwas* of extremist clerics who have called for the targeted sectarian killing of Alawite women and children by issuing his own *fatwas* prohibiting the killing of civilians of the Alawite minority. He maintains a very clear position defending the rights of all minorities, including those condemned by extremists as heterodox. Sheikh al-Yaqoubi also differs with the Islamist agenda to Islamize Syrias laws. The Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups promote a kind of activism that seeks to implement a greater degree of Islamic law in the state. The growing use of Islamic law by Jabhat al-Nusra and other Islamist groups in territory controlled by rebels likely prompted the announcement by Muaz al-Khatib of an effort to introduce a code of Islamic law sanctioned by the opposition that the rebels could implementan apparent attempt to assuage this desire manifesting in a stampede toward * sharia* while ensuring that such a law would be relatively moderate. Where does Sheikh al-Yaqoubi stand on this issue? He thinks Syrias current family laws are just fine, and are already sufficiently compatible with the *sharia*. He also believes that legal reform should not be pursued before a constitutionally-based committee can be formed which would tackle any needed changes, *after* the regime has fallen and a new Syrian government has been created. Despite being well-known in Syria and playing an important role in the history of the uprising, Sheikh al-Yaqoubi and other Sufi *ulema* like him have been excluded from the political opposition. Desperation following the slow, groaning crisis of the oppositions ineffectiveness, as well as fears that figures like al-Yaqoubi may band together and form an alternative opposition have led to his appointment to the National Coalition, following a letter he drafted to Muaz al-Khatib, signed by 25 Sufi sheikhs and containing an ultimatum about the need for their participation in the political process. One obvious question is: what level of real influence will the Sheikh have? Does his participation mark the beginning of a trend, or will he merely be the NCs token member of the *ulema*? In addition to having already played an important role throughout the uprising, Sheikh al-Yaqoubi and other Sufi leaders have been building influence lately, working together for about six months to form an umbrella organization for rebel groups comprised of Sunnis and Sufis aligned with Syrias mainstream values, rather than Islamist agendas. The organization is called the Movement for Building Civilization. He and his peers have produced a charter document which rebels groups can sign, pledging agreement with a set of foundational principles, including: 1. Removing the regime while not destroying the stateprotecting public institutions; 2. The rejection of revenge, retaliation, and execution during the uprising, keeping the trials of war criminals for after the collapse of the regime and the establishment of a new government; 3. After the collapse of the regime, rebel groups should cease to carry arms and their members should return to civilian life or join the national army; 4. All ethnic and religious communities are to be defended as equal citizens under the law; 5. No ethnic or religious group is to be held responsible for the crimes of the regime; 6. A future Syrian government must operate according to a separation of judicial, legislative, and executive powers; 7. The future government must be a democracy of political multiplicity and the 1950 Constitution should be in effect during the interim period until a new parliament is elected and a new constitution is agreed upon. Many young sheikhs who joined the Syrian uprising are frustrated with their lack of options regarding conservative political movements to be aligned with. The three main options are Salafis, Hezb al-Tahrir, and Muslim Brotherhood movements, none of which well-represent mainstream Syrian Sunnis who look for the legitimacy of *ulema* leadership. This concern was a primary motivation for the creation of the Movement for Building Civilization. Al-Yaqoubi and the sheikhs he works with are in contact with over 200 rebel groups who consult them regarding principles, goals, and methods, but many of these groups are disillusioned with the inability of the Sufi and *ulema* leadership to offer them any kind of practical monetary support. Lacking funding, groups that would like to follow moderate figures of the *ulema* will remain vulnerable to recruitment by Islamist forces. The formation of a Sufi bloc within the opposition could provide an alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood, one that would represent far greater numbers of Syrians. Sheikh Yaqoubi has stated that he supports a government in which the Muslim Brotherhood can operate, but that he opposes a monopoly of any one faction. He told me in a recent conversation: We may have to deal with an Ikhwaani prime minister in the future Syria. That is democracy. But the real question is: will the government be of all one color, or will it be inclusive? Theres no question about which demographic will win this war: the next power in Syria will be Sunni. And the question goes beyond how big a Sunni win will occur. The real question is: which Sunni groups brand of Islam will define the political paradigm of the new state? The influence of *ulema* who respect Syrias diversity, promote a tolerant social sphere, and support an inclusive government structure will be extremely important in the nations future, and the international community should be in conversation with them. http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/sheikh-al-yaqoubi-elected-to-the-nc/ Is Jabhat al-Nosra breaking apart?<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/is-jabhat-al-nosra-breaking-apart/>Posted by Aron Lund on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 *by Aron Lund for Syria Comment* [image: Flag_of_Jabhat_al-Nusra]<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Flag_of_Jabhat_al-Nusra.jpg>Theres been some very interesting reports about conflicts within Jabhat al-Nosra, the salafi-jihadi rebel group that has been designated an al-Qaida-connected terrorist organization by the USA and several other countries. *The background* If you follow Syria, youre already familiar with the outlines of this, but heres the very short version: In a recorded voice statement released online on April 10, 2013, Jabhat al-Nosras leader Abu Mohammed al-Joulani confirmed that his group had been created with assistance from the Iraqi al-Qaida wing (called the Islamic State of Iraq, ISI). He also renewed his pledge of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the international al-Qaida leader, leaving little doubt that he had been a sworn al-Qaida member all along. At the same time, Abu Mohammed distanced himself from the suggestion that a total merger had been agreed between Jabhat al-Nosra and the ISI. This was in response to a statement put out on the previous day (April 9) by the ISI emir, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who had said that both groups would now merge into something called the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (lets abbreviate it ISIS). *[image: 200px-Flag_of_Islamic_State_of_Iraq.svg]<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/200px-Flag_of_Islamic_State_of_Iraq.svg_.png> *In sum, there was no dispute between the Syrian and Iraqi leaders about the fact that Jabhat al-Nosra is an al-Qaida faction ultimately loyal to Zawahiri, but they differed on whether it would be absorbed into a regional umbrella (ISIS) constructed from the Iraqi franchise (ISI) or retain its own separate identity within the international al-Qaida framework. Syrian opposition groups reacted negatively, including the main Islamist formations, although most tempered their criticism by stressing the positive contributions of Jabhat al-Nosra to the uprising so far. For some responses to the Abu Mohammed and Abu Bakr statements by Islamist groups in Syria, see a previous post of mine on Syria Comment<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/major-salafi-faction-criticizes-jabhat-al-nosra/>, and these translations on Hassan Hassans site<http://www.hhassan.com/2013/04/jihadists-warn-that-unification-of.html> . *Says Sands* After Abu Mohammed al-Joulanis strange semi-rebuttal to Abu Bakr on April 10, both groups fell silent, and everybody seemed to be waiting for an explanation. None came. Now, suddenly, several media reports have been published, suggesting that the dispute hasnt been resolved but is in fact growing worse. In some of these reports, purported Jabhat al-Nosra fighters even talk about the group splitting apart or losing members, although they differ on who is leaving and for what reason. Phil Sands who wrote this sadly beautiful last letter from Damascus<http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/a-journalist-takes-a-road-from-damascus-after-five-years> a couple of months ago offers one take on these events in *The National*<http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/al-qaeda-loyalty-pledge-unsettles-nusra-front#full> . He quotes a Jabhat al-Nosra member from Damascus as saying that everyone I know was surprised by the statement; it was more than wed expected to hear, meaning the pledge of allegiance to Zawahiri. The Jabhat al-Nosra member now worries that there will be clashes between Jabhat al-Nosra and the Western/Gulf backed factions grouped under the FSA label, after Jabhat al-Nosra came out of the closet as an official al-Qaida franchise. The gist of Sandss article is that locally recruited and/or pragmatic fighters are upset with Abu Mohammed al-Joulanis pledge of allegiance to Zawahiri and al-Qaida, because it will make it harder for them to focus on fighting Assad. (Theyre probably right about that.) Theres no claim of an open split in the group, yet, but it does indicate internal tension between locally-minded grassroots fighters and the globalist, Qaida-connected leadership. *Claims Karouny* Writing for Reuters<http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/17/us-syria-crisis-nusra-idUSBRE94G0FY20130517>, Mariam Karouny has a much more spectacular take on what is going on. She also quotes people in and close to Jabhat al-Nosra, as well as some rivals to the group. The narrative that emerges is one of a full-blown split within the group, threatening to unravel the Syrian al-Qaida network. According to this version, Jabhat al-Nosra is now torn between the adherents of Abu Mohammed al-Joulani and his Iraqi counterpart and self-styled superior, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In this version, the ISIS project is going ahead despite Abu Mohammeds objections, and has already incorporated a significant chunk of Jabhat al-Nosras organization. Abu Bakr is said to have moved into the Aleppo region to rally his own adherents, while fighters loyal to Abu Mohammed refuse to submit to his dictates or surrender the Jabhat al-Nosra brand. Karouny quotes a Nosra source close to Abu Mohammed al-Joulani as trying to minimize the pledge of allegiance to Zawahiri and saying that it came about in an attempt by [Abu Mohammed al-Joulani] to keep his distance from Baghdadi. According to another Nosra source quoted in the article, The situation has changed a lot. Baghdadis men are working but Nusra is not working formally anymore. If this is true, were talking about a Fukushima-level ideological meltdown in one of Syrias most important rebel groups. *ISIS vs. Jabhat al-Nosra?* Phil Spencer in the* Daily Telegraph*<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10067318/Syria-Jabhat-al-Nusra-split-after-leaders-pledge-of-support-for-al-Qaeda.html> makes a similar claim, based on Aleppo sources outside of Jabhat al-Nosra, and says that its fighters are withdrawing from the Aleppo frontlines. An opposition activist in Raqqa is cited by theAFP<http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/05/20/Watchdog-Syrian-opposition-chief-kidnapped.html>. He makes the same case, depicting an Iraqi takeover that is being resisted by a rump faction of Jabhat al-Nosra: *The activist said that in Raqa, even within jihadists ranks there is division.* *The Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria is becoming more powerful than al-Nusra Front in some areas, he said.* *He said the* [Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham]* had tried to bring the jihadist al-Nusra Front under its full control, but could not.* *Now they are two groups, competing against each other for influence, said the activist, who is well-informed on political developments in rebel-held areas.* *al-Manara al-Beida clams up* Meanwhile, Jabhat al-Nosras only approved source of public communications, the online media organization al-Manara al-Beida, has fallen silent since the April 10 release by Abu Mohammed al-Joulani. The ISIs media wing, al-Furqan, is also out of commission since the April 9 statement by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. (Im thankful to Aaron Zelin, who helped me check this. His invaluable site Jihadology provides a full list of Jabhat al-Nosra<http://jihadology.net/category/jabhah-al-nu%E1%B9%A3rah/> and ISI <http://jihadology.net/category/islamic-state-of-iraq/> statements in PDF format, drawn from the main jihadi web forums.) Jihadi communications can be very irregular indeed, for all sorts of reasons, but the total shutdown of both these media offices simultaneously is such a striking coincidence that of course it is no coincidence. al-Manara al-Beida used to publish a batch of field reports about their (oh! glorious!) victories almost weekly, with occasional video releases and the odd media statement in between. But now, when it seems they would be most eager to explain what is going on, theres been nothing but ghastly silence for a month and a half. The only thing weve heard from Jabhat al-Nosra since April 10 has come through unofficial channels, like leaders speaking to the media, contrary to their own stated policy. Theres also been two statements purportedly from Jabhat al-Nosras section in the Deraa region, published on May 7 and May 22. But they didnt arrive through al-Manara al-Beida. The Deraa statements arent reporting attacks either. Rather, they are an odd-sounding laundry list of complaints and sharia rulings about stuff that the Deraa jihadis are fed up with, such as people spreading rumors, fence-sitting Druze people, out-of-control salafi clerics posing as Jabhat al-Nosra representatives, swindlers scamming jihadis for money, and low-quality recruits from Jordan. As if fighting Assad wasnt enough! But they include nothing directly related to the al-Qaida brouhaha. *Confusion all around* In the absence of any clarification from the actors themselves, nobody seems sure about what is actually going on. Does ISIS exist? Has there been a split in Jabhat al-Nosra? If so, is it between Abu Mohammed al-Joulani and his locally recruited followers, who take issue with his declaration of allegiance to Zawahiri? Or is it between Abu Mohammed and the Iraqi emir Abu Bakr, who has mounted an internal coup against his leadership? And to whom would Zawahiri give his blessing, as supreme commander of al-Qaida? Maybe it isnt a nation-wide Syrian split, but a division which plays out differently in different parts of the organization? Maybe its just a little local rebellion? Or maybe its a huge deal, and the undertow from an ISI thrust into Syria will seep back across the border, and onwards through the global Qaida network? Maybe. Maybe! Or maybe this is all a simple misunderstanding, a little communications mishap which will be sorted out once the three leaders involved Abu Mohammed al-Joulani of Jabhat al-Nosra, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the ISI, and Ayman al-Zawahiri of al-Qaidas general command have decided on the proper language for a joint statement. Despite the fact that both the Jabhat al-Nosra and the ISI media wings seem to have been knocked out cold by the April 9-10 controversy, the fighters themselves are still soldiering on. Some Jabhat al-Nosra members are said to have died in the battle in al-Quseir just the other day. And bombs are still going off at an impressive pace in Iraq, leaving little doubt that ISI is still around. Meanwhile, a thin trickle of videotapes in the ISIS name has started to show up online, although not through official channels, making it doubtful what or who they really represent. (On the fine Brown Moses blog<http://brown-moses.blogspot.se/2013/05/jabhat-al-nusra-and-islamic-state-of.html>, Aymenn Al Tamimi writes a guest post about this.) *Un-conclusion* So what to make of it? Oh, I have no idea. And my guess is that no one else does either, despite the tsunami of speculative hypotheses that is already starting to build at the far end of the Internet. As far as Im concerned, the only thing we can assume with a reasonable degree of certainty is that (1) the contradictory statements, and (2) the sudden interruption of Jabhat al-Nosra and ISI communications, and (3) the flood of reports about internal discontent and splits is means that there actually is or has been a significant internal disagreement between two or more of these Qaida factions. And whatever it is, because of (2) and (3), they will now have to deal with rumors and hostile propaganda too. Even if theyve now sorted it all out, they have a serious public relations crisis on their hands. Thats no small matter in a situation as media-driven as the Syrian conflict. Perhaps we will now simply get a statement setting the record straight by affirming that Jabhat al-Nosra and the ISI either have or havent merged into ISIS. And if so, maybe theyll shutter al-Manara al-Beida and al-Furqan and present a new media wing for them both, explaining the long silence. If, on the other hand, there are indeed irreconcileable differences between two or more of the players involved, then I guess there will be several statements, which will make for very interesting reading. Zawahiri should have the final word, but hes off in Pakistan somewhere, and who knows how long he can keep his Mashreqi lieutenants in line after theyve outgrown him politically and militarily. At some point well certainly know more about whats happening, and then we can start to draw conclusions. But right now, we dont, and we cant. So lets just sit here and listen to the eerie silence of al-Manara al-Beida the sound of one of the worst Syrian communication gaffes since March 30, 2011 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cKXUbOxU5U>. * by Aron Lund* [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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