[t]http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/1218D/production/_90552147_034266792.jpg[/t]
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36916606[/url]
[quote]Syrian jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra, also known as the Nusra Front, has announced it has split from al-Qaeda.
Leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani, in his first recorded message, said its new name would be Jabhat Fateh al-Sham [Front for the Conquest of Syria/the Levant].
He said the move was intended to remove the pretext used by powers, including the US and Russia, to bomb Syrians.
...
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the US also had increasing concerns that the group intended to attack the West.
...
The new group "will have no links whatsoever with foreign parties", he added.
...
It is understood the group hopes to form closer alliances with other Islamist groups fighting in Syria.[/quote]
Key points:
Was offshoot of al queda
Dislike the west
Dislike IS
Dislike Russia/Assad
Want to establish a caliphate
Seem to want to combine or ally with opposition groups
On the news last night there were people discussing about reclassifying them as not terrorist and instead a moderate opposition group. US seems to be sticking to guns and keeping them as terrorists.
[quote]The US responded by saying it saw no reason to change its view of the group as a terrorist organisation.[/quote]
The whole "conquest of al-Sham" thing suggests that they want make an islamic state via violence so there is that.
Ultimately I don't think much will change unless there is a power void left in Syria in which case they (or 1 of the many other terro- islamist opposition groups eg islamic front) will fill that void.
Part of me thinks they're not like the IS since they are mostly syrian and claim to be focussing themselves entirely on "al-sham" which I think comprises syria and parts of Iraq where as IS spin a globe point to a landmass and say "we want that one". I guess we can only wait and see
[quote]were people discussing about reclassifying them as not terrorist and instead a moderate opposition group[/quote]
what a fucking joke
[QUOTE=Araknid;50795015]what a fucking joke[/QUOTE]
It was on BBC Outside Source last night if you/anyone else wants to track it down.
edit:
Scratch that, Al Nusra left AQ with the intention to no longer be classed as terrorists and since they're allying with moderate rebels its making things difficult for the US state department. If Al Nusra can prove they are actually moderate then they might be reclassified.
It was discussed, discussion is warranted. Anything other than keeping them classified as terrorists would be foolish though.
Its here
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07ltw24/outside-source-28072016[/url]
About 15 mins in
That video wont be available for long so watch it now if you are interested.
Al-Nusra are a lot less brutal and indiscriminate than ISIS and Al-Qaeda, but their ideology and motivations are pretty much the same. They aim to establish a sunni islamic caliphate, and they use a lot of the same tactics (suicide bombings, car bombings, assassinations of public figures, guerilla warfare). They are by no means moderate.
[URL="https://web.archive.org/web/20140722191931/http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/publications/free/jabhat-al-nusra-a-strategic-briefing.pdf"]https://web.archive.org/web/20140722191931/http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/publications/free/jabhat-al-nusra-a-strategic-briefing.pdf[/URL]
The have also been reports of them using child soldiers and deliberately and indescriminately attacking alawite towns.
[URL="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/23/world/meast/hrw-child-soldiers/index.html?hpt=wo_c2"]http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/23/world/meast/hrw-child-soldiers/index.html?hpt=wo_c2[/URL]
[URL="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11927760/Syrias-Nusra-Front-leader-urges-wider-attacks-on-Assads-Alawite-areas-to-avenge-Russian-bombing.html"]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11927760/Syrias-Nusra-Front-leader-urges-wider-attacks-on-Assads-Alawite-areas-to-avenge-Russian-bombing.html[/URL]
[URL="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/syrian-civil-war-jabhat-al-nusras-massacre-of-druze-villagers-shows-the-group-is-just-as-nasty-as-10318348.html"]http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/syrian-civil-war-jabhat-al-nusras-massacre-of-druze-villagers-shows-the-group-is-just-as-nasty-as-10318348.html[/URL]
Their terrorist organisation designation is well justified and should stay as such, it's just that they're smaller and slightly more careful with their image. And they pale in comparison to ISIS' extreme brutality and power.
Mini update to this:
Heres a video with a section following the group formerly known as Al-Nusra front. It shows them wearing american gear. If that gear was provided by the US government it might raise some questions. Why was Al Nusra provided with the equipment? What can be done to prevent equipment given to moderate rebels falling into the hands of baddies.
[url]https://youtu.be/VIQ0z5TWfns?t=93[/url]
The video also features interviews with a bunch of nutters. A suicide bomber who keeps dodging doing it himself just making others do it and the "al britani" guy (half british, half american who went to syria to find faith) turns out hes fighting for Al Nusra and has signed up to be a suicide bomber but decided he didn't want to do it. Shows a few attacks, honestly can't see how anybody could support Al Nusra they're like every bad stereotype for Islamist terrorists.
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