Jihadist killing of captives widens the split among rebel fighters in Syria

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Guardian

Rebel groups are accusing Syria's military council of infighting and nepotism and a failure to lead in the wake of a video that shows an opposition unit killing around two dozen captured regime soldiers.

Armed opposition units across the Aleppo hinterland say the western-backed council is failing in its bid to create a co-ordinated opposition army, partly because of its refusal to deal with Islamist-leaning Syrian groups.

The groups say the military council's favouritism towards some units means other militias are unwilling to act with discipline or to be held accountable. The disturbing scenes of the captured regime troops being killed, shortly after their post near Damascus was overrun, have angered rebel units in the north.

"We have to show we are different from the regime," said Sheik Omar Othman from the Islamist-leaning Liwat al-Tawheed unit in Aleppo. "Because they do it, it means that we don't."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/03/syria-military-council-aleppo-rebels

[David__77]

1. I'm not aware of any pro-government militia posting videos of prisoner killings.

The salafi, Western-backed insurgents are proud of such things. The US is on the wrong side of history here.

[tabasco]

2. Yeah, the Syrian army is knights in shining armor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Homs_offensive

http://syrianfreedomls.tumblr.com/post/22257091745/syrian-army-guilty-of-war-crimes-human-rights-watch

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/syrian-army-attacks-on-bakeries-war-crimes-1.1067987

http://www.eyesonsyria.org/hr_issues.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_violations_during_the_Syrian_civil_war

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17921390

[David__77]

3. I'd prefer the Syrian army outside my door rather than those rebels any day.

As a gay man, I can't help but think of how much worse things will be for lesbians and gay men in Syria is Assad is overthrown by the insurgents. Of course they are pretty closeted now and sometimes persecuted, but it's absolutely nothing compared with the killings that will happen if he falls. It will be just like Iraq, how things got worse for women and gays after the Baathists were overthrown by the US.

[leveymg]

4. The Syrian Army didn't kill 3000 Americans on 9/11 - Saudi Jihadis did.

How soon some in Washington pushing regime change in the Middle East/North Africa have forgotten that central fact.

They're back.