American military action could strengthen Islamic extremists and criminals (NYT)

[jsr]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/world/middleeast/brutality-of-syrian-rebels-pose-dilemma-in-west.html

Brutality of Syrian Rebels Posing Dilemma in West
By C. J. CHIVERS
Published: September 5, 2013

(WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO)

... As the United States debates whether to support the Obama administration’s proposal that Syrian forces should be attacked for using chemical weapons against civilians, this video, shot in April, joins a growing body of evidence of an increasingly criminal environment populated by gangs of highwaymen, kidnappers and killers...

In the more than two years this civil war has carried on, a large part of the Syrian opposition has formed a loose command structure that has found support from several Arab nations, and, to a more limited degree, the West. Other elements of the opposition have assumed an extremist cast, and openly allied with Al Qaeda.

Across much of Syria, where rebels with Western support live and fight, areas outside of government influence have evolved into a complex guerrilla and criminal landscape.

That has raised the prospect that American military action could inadvertently strengthen Islamic extremists and criminals.

[David__77]

1. And why would this be "inadvertent?" Of course this would be a war for al Qaeda.

It's quite treasonous against the interests of this country certainly, and does no favors for any Syrian either. In a short decade, the leading politicians have gone from waging war on al Qaeda into acting on its behalf.

[TwilightGardener]

2. It's a shit sandwich, the whole thing. No good guys anywhere, but a leader who

ignores international policy and uses chem weapons--what to do? Nothing, and hope no one else gets any funny ideas from the world's lack of resolve on WMD's? Attack non-civilian targets, and risk collateral damage and casualties and a wider war? No one wants to eat it. Repubs just want to oppose Obama, don't give a shit about anything else, so they're even more useless than usual. But what should rational patriotic grownups do?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. It would be possible for a real change for the better.....

But we always fixate on religious leaders.

Okay.

Imagine if you will.

America falls into chaos and some outside powerful country steps in and looks at the situation and picks someone to be the new leader.

Their choice?

Some nutbag snake handling evangelical hillbilly pastor from Appalachia.