How Many Are Bad Guys in Syria's Rebels? Maybe 80%, Depending on How You Count

[Benton D Struckcheon]

Syria's insurgency beyond Good Guys and Bad Guys

While a very large majority of fighters ultimately still aim to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad for the perceived betterment of Syria, the rhetoric now underpinning their fighting has become visibly sectarian. Even the most senior Western-backed Syrian Military Council (SMC) commanders now frequently use vitriolic anti-Shiite and anti-Alawite terms in their statements. The suspected chemical attack outside Damascus early on August 21 appears to have concretely established this sectarian reality across the board.

And more. Good article.

[David__77]

1. The Alawites are a historically oppressed group in Syria.

As are the Christians, for centuries. But the Alawites in particular have been singled out, with numerous fatwas issues on how they are worse than the non-Islamic religions. It strikes me like anti-Semitism.

Having an Alawite as president was so INSULTING to the radical Sunni/salafist segment, that it is akin to the outrage in Weimer Germany to a Jewish head of government. It is as if a Kurd managed to become head of Turkey.

[VanillaRhapsody]

2. or some in America to having a Black President?

[David__77]

3. That's right...

...but even more so as if this happened right after the Civil War. None of this is to say the Assads have been good rulers, but that it plays a significant role in the opposition. Many of them would have been fine with a Sunni Saddam Hussein.

[brooklynite]

8. even worse when they used military oppresion to hold onto power...

[David__77]

9. That's true.

Majority groups get very offended when historically repressed minority groups have power, and certainly more so when they use repression to defend it.

[chocolate ink]

4. good guys and bad guys

That article is the best I've read on describing just who is fighting against Assad. Very informative, good article as you said.

[Catherina]

5. Yes indeed. A very good article. It gives #s to what Germany's Chief of Staff said last week

A very good article. Thank you.

The chief of staff of Germany's armed forces, General Volker Wieker, also told lawmakers the influence of al-Qaeda linked forces within the rebels was becoming stronger and stronger.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/08/us-syria-crisis-germany-idUSBRE98707B20130908

According Wieker there were hardly any defectors from the ranks of the Assad troops. Because, as a rule, deserters were shot by the rebels immediately.

http://german.irib.ir/nachrichten/nahost/item/226043-%C2%BBbild-am-sonntag%C2%AB-assad-hat-giftgas-einsatz-nicht-genehmigt

The Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Volker Wieker, reported a dramatic shift of power within the rebel forces after the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) has lost its former military leadership.

The General added that no merger of deserters from the Assad troops exists any longer. Instead, the influence of the Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda in the rebel movement became stronger and stronger - with dramatic consequences. According Wieker there are few defectors from the ranks of the Assad troops. Because deserters were shot by the rebels as a rule immediately.

http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/syrien-krise/assad-kommandeure-wollten-giftgas-einsetzen-32300094.bild.html

[Benton D Struckcheon]

6. Whether they're shot depends,

according to other stuff I've read, on whether they were combat troops or just support people. By now, anyone who's been in combat for the past two years has been responsible for quite a bit of killing, so I have no doubt they'd be shot. That's not evil, it's just human nature.

Also, note this passage:

While it is incontrovertibly the case that jihadists (or "extremists&quot represent a minority of the total insurgent force, true genuine "moderates" -- by Western standards of supporting the establishment of a non-religious, liberal state preferably founded on democratic principals -- also do not represent a majority. The largest portion of insurgent fighters in Syria is in fact represented by "Islamists," some less socially and politically conservative than others. Crucially, this does not preclude them from being potentially valuable leaders of a future Syria or even as future friends of the West, but it is important that this crucial element of the opposition is included within the minds of today's policymakers.

The world isn't black or white, even in Syria in the middle of a civil war. It's ridiculously complex, and propaganda for either side is just a simplification of that reality.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Great read. Thanks for posting K&R nt