NEW YORK TIMES: As diplomats at the United Nations push for a peace conference to end Syria’s civil war, a collection of some of the country’s most powerful rebel groups publicly abandoned the opposition’s political leaders, casting their lot with an affiliate of Al Qaeda.
As support for the Western-backed leadership has dwindled, a second, more extreme Al Qaeda group has carved out footholds across parts of Syria, frequently clashing with mainline rebels who accuse it of making the establishment of an Islamic state a priority over the fight to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
The fractured nature of the opposition, the rising radical Islamist character of some rebel fighters, and the increasing complexity of Syria’s battle lines have left the exile leadership with diminished clout inside the country and have raised the question of whether it could hold up its end of any agreement reached to end the war… (more)
EDITOR: Once again President Barack Obama has proven wise in protecting American interests while his critics are shown to be foolish. He would not be goaded into warring against the Assad regime until he was convinced that al Qaeda would not be its successor.
Brains, education and critical thinking prevailed over emotions. We need more of that in our leadership, both nationally and here in Lancaster.
