Study: Almost half of all rebels in Syria are jihadists or hardline Islamists

[cqo_000]

The new study by IHS Jane's, a defence consultancy, estimates there are around 10,000 jihadists - who would include foreign fighters - fighting for powerful factions linked to al-Qaeda..

Another 30,000 to 35,000 are hardline Islamists who share much of the outlook of the jihadists, but are focused purely on the Syrian war rather than a wider international struggle.

There are also at least a further 30,000 moderates belonging to groups that have an Islamic character, meaning only a small minority of the rebels are linked to secular or purely nationalist groups.

The stark assessment, to be published later this week, accords with the view of Western diplomats estimate that less than one third of the opposition forces are "palatable" to Britain, while American envoys put the figure even lower.

Read More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10311007/Syria-nearly-half-rebel-fighters-are-jihadists-or-hardline-Islamists-says-IHS-Janes-report.html

[David__77]

1. And yet McCain and Co. are great friends of jihad now.

McCain truly loves al Qaeda.

[freshwest]

2. in the USA, freedom of religion takes care of that concern, although...

IMO, the religious trapping is just a cover up for some otber interest. I'd say 'prove me wrong' but it's just my opinion...

[longship]

3. Of course they are.

In the Middle East religion always preys on chaos. We've seen it happen time and time again.

One day in our future somebody will make that connection and realize how badly people are fucking things up by having anything to do with the Middle East.

Religion sure does fuck things up there.

Then, there's the theocratic GOP here in the US...

[Scootaloo]

4. Religious extremism is simply a symptom, one we would suffer here under other conditions

The problem is that Syria, despite all its nationalist thumpings, is a state with a very weak concept of self, paired with a very weak government. It has a bad economy, and it has been bad since the late sixties. The weak governments have suffered a successtion of coups, takeovers, and rebellions. In this environment, religious extremism - any kind of extremism, really - is going to breed and strengthen.

The problem then, is the lack of Syria's ability to maintain itself and deliver what a state promises its people - and this isn't just a problem of the Assad baathists, bust has been a problem that predates independence - the French neglected Syria, focusing almost all of their resources on Lebanon.

And frankly the west isn't helping. The west isn't thinking of helping. In fact what the west tends to do is the OPPOSITE of helping, for the most part. There was a possibility that Bashar could have turned things around, but then Bush went on his Axis of Evil bullshit rampage, and a couple hundred thousand Iraqis got squeezed into an already-fragile Syria. Obama doesn't use the Axis of Evil nonsense, but he hasn't changed those policies, either. And of course that' whole "Israel Annexing southwest Syria with the United State's happy cock-tug of a blessing" thing keeping that tension going...

Things are already fucked-up before religion shows up on the scene.

[BlueMTexpat]

5. +1000! eom

[longship]

6. Anybody who doesn't see religion as a problem in the ME is delusional.

The whole Issue of Israel even existing is like a boil, festering throughout the region. And today's US policies on Israel is not helping matters, nor is their thuggish behavior (which the US supports). And the Arabic countries are no better.

And here's the thing about the ME. Both factions claim the land in the name of their god. So to argue that it isn't religion is a non-starter. The Middle East is all about religion.

Hitchens was right. Religion poisons everything. Especially Middle East politics.

[Scootaloo]

7. Or they've studied the region with more depth than "I read Hitchens!"

Religion is "a problem" in the general sense everywhere, sure.

The Middle East's problems do not begin or end there, and in fact the problems of extremest religion in the middle east are - again - problems that will be - and often are - found in other nations with similar deeper issues at work.

Religious extremism is a symptom of a worse root cause.

[longship]

8. Yup! So you agree with me. nt

[HooptieWagon]

9. Assad and previously his father have ruled Syria since the 60s.

So there hasn't been a coup, rebellion, or takeover for decades, until now. And Syria hasn't been at war with neighbors since 1973...40 years. It might be a dictatorship, but it was a fairly stable one until recently. It was Saudi Arabi who sent in agent provocatuers to stir up trouble that enflamed the jihadists.