3w ago

Syria’s government appears to have fallen

The Syrian government appeared to have fallen early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a lightning rebel offensive.

You're viewing a single thread.

13 comments

I don't pretend to know who the rebels are and what kind of government they mean to set up, but I'm hopeful if both Russia and Iran were Assad backers.
- From what I know they’re islamists. Although word is they’re pushing a bit more tolerant angle lately, but no one knows if it’s genuine or just to get support.
  It’s a slight improvement for the people of Syria, but not much.
  
  They [HTS & some others] have promised to dismantle and work towards a government ruled by the people, but even if they don't deliver on that, it would still be much better than the Ba'thist rule in nearly every aspect.
  HTS is not the only group there. The FSA [supported by the US], HTS [Supported by Turkey], and repels from Dar'a [Who somehow survived and were the first to reach Rif Dimashq] are all in Damascus right now. So I guess negotiations are necessary? I am hoping for the best, not sure we're getting that though.
  
  Everyone describes the rebels as "Islamist", but since Assad's regime is/was islamic as well it's a very strange choice of labels.
  You wouldn't call them that unless it was either a useful way to differentiate them, which it doesn't seem to be, or to manipulate the way people feel about either the rebels or Islam
  
  People need to start talking about this in terms of (at minimum) Shia vs Sunni.
  The problem with that, is we have wars like Afghanistan (Taliban and ISIS-K are BOTH Sunni but still fight each other. No different than like, Lutherans getting pissed at Calvinists (both Protestant who hate Catholics but real world is more nuanced than the big divisions).
- Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda with a bunch of others who may end up infighting. Hope in this case is naive.

13 comments