Syria: America And Terrorism - What Is
Strange About This? Jabhat al-Nusra, A Militant Group
Fighting In Syria
17 December 2012
By Tariq Alhomayed
There is no doubt that everyone who cares for the
Syrian state, and everyone who sympathizes with the
Syrian revolution, is aware of the danger of the
outbreak of terrorism there. The wise have warned,
since the start of the Syrian revolution, of that
danger. However it is striking today that Washington
has announced it has put Jabhat al-Nusra, a militant
group fighting in Syria, on its terrorism black list.
Here some might ask, what is strange about this?
What is strange of course is that Washington put this
militant group on its black list before formally
recognizing the most important group in Syria in the
first place, namely the Syrian opposition coalition.
Of course, we always expected the US to recognize the
Syrian National Coalition, but this recognition should
have come earlier. This is what wise have called for
since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, i.e. for
Washington to take the initiative and move closer to
the Syrian opposition, specifically the Free Syrian
Army. With the existence of a clear and coherent
revolutionary body, the level of terrorism and
terrorists will decrease in Syria. However, with the
continuing brutal crimes of the al-Assad regime, no
one should be surprised by extremism, even among
moderates. The deaths of over 40,000 people can cause
even the most rational Syrians to lose their minds.
Therefore it would have been better for Washington to
take the initiative quickly, as the Arabs and
Europeans did, by recognizing the Syrian National
Coalition as the sole representative of the Syrian
people earlier. This would have cut off the road for
terrorism and terrorists today, and perhaps even after
the fall of al-Assad. Of course there is no guarantee
that terrorist groups won't appear after the fall of
al-Assad, but at least the rational Syrian bloc will
have the upper hand by then, being a strong and
internationally recognized force, and will be able to
defeat these terrorists.
Washington has been late to adopt effective solutions
in Syria, and the price to be paid for that is an
increase in terrorism. What complicates matters
especially is that Washington has shown great concern
for minorities in Syria, at a time when the majority
is suffering from al-Assad's hell. The issue here is
not one of minority versus majority; rather it is a
case of a lack of clarity in the US vision towards
Syria. There is a glaring contradiction between
Washington [seeking to protect minorities in Syria]
and its previous stances in Iraq, for example, and the
well-known story of minorities and majorities there,
and likewise its stance towards the proposed Egyptian
constitution, despite the objection of minorities a
substantial segment of Egyptian civil society. What
the region needs, from all the key international
players including America, is help in consolidating
stability, on equal and fair terms across the entire
Middle East. These terms are necessary; they are not a
novelty, and they include the preservation of rights
for all and the protection of the state. The break-up
of region's countries would have dire consequences for
the security of the region and the international
community, as well as for those seeking to defend the
oppressed. Yet the Syrian case represents the most
flagrant example of US inaction. It is not conceivable
for al-Assad to kill his own people while America
merely talks about protecting minorities and places a
militant Syrian group on its terrorism blacklist
before fully recognizing the Syrian National
Coalition.
This article is not a message of support for Jabhat
al-Nusra, rather I am trying to say in clear language
that it would have been better for the US to fully
recognize the Syrian National Coalition earlier. As
soon as you acknowledge the existence of the wise you
reduce the risk of evil, wherever you are.
Tariq Alhomayed is the Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat,
the youngest person to be appointed that position. He
holds a BA degree in Media studies from King Abdul
Aziz University in Jeddah, and has also completed his
Introductory courses towards a Master's degree from
George Washington University in Washington D.C. He is
based in London.
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EsinIslam.Com
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