To: puborectalis who wrote (943687 ) 6/29/2016 3:24:18 AM From: Broken_Clock Respond to Peace Laureate protecting Al Qaeda in Syria…probably just being the lesser of two evils….."The US has disputed the Russian claims, but at the same time they have urged the Russians not to launch airstrikes against any Nusra targets anywhere in Syria, citing their close ties to the rebel factions the US are supporting." http://news.antiwar.com/2016/06/28/pentagon-claims-showdown-with-russian-jets-in-syrian-skies/ [2] [3] [4] In 2012, al-Nusra began to rise to prominence among rebel organizations in Syria for its reliable supply of arms, funding, and fighters that came from a combination of foreign donors and AQI. Considered well trained, professional, and relatively successful on the battlefield, al-Nusra earned the respect and support of many rebel groups, including many moderate-leaning groups, early in the war. However, although it has avoided tactics like the brutal executions and sectarian attacks that made AQI unpopular, al-Nusra engendered opposition among some Syrians at the beginning of the conflict by imposing religious laws in areas it controlled. Al-Nusra was also the first Syrian force to claim responsibility for suicide terrorist attacks that killed civilians in early 2012. [5] Still, the group's reputation among rebels and the Syrian population was strong enough that when the United States designated it as a terrorist organization in December 2012, a number of anti-government groups including some Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters protested the designation. [6] web.stanford.edu
