Advancing Extremism
"The dogs of military security were executed in Clock Square", a narrator's voice is heard to claim on a video produced by Syrian rebels in celebration of their takeover of the capital of Raqqa province in northern Syria, from government forces. The dogs to which they refer, regime military, were killed after their capture. The video shows the bodies of men lying face down in a public square, hands bound securely, brains blown out of their craniums.Another video of triumphant ascension illustrative of victoy in Raqqa, shows the body of a military intelligence official being driven about conspicuously in the back of a truck, around town. The truck stops, the rebels lay out out the body in a street alongside another body. Both of the dead have their heads blown out. Savagely satisfying, no doubt.
Justified, according to a Raqqa activist -- since the military security was notorious in the city of 500,000 people - the first of Syria's provincial capitals to fall entirely under the control of the rebels - for brutality toward the opposition during the uprising. On entering the city, rebels surrounded the military compound, granting safe passage to the 60 officers to a nearby airport.
Part way to the airport the officers attempted escape, and a clash ensued, killing four rebels and nine officers. Presumably the military officers had their arms confiscated by the rebels before they were escorted, presumably to the airport. How a scuffle would ensue when the officers were disarmed, leading to the death of four rebels and nine officers is an inexplicable development.
"This is not Islamic extremism" claimed Abu Yazan, a leader int the Islamist Faithful of Raqqa Brigade. "It is these Islamic movements that freed us from the criminal regime." Lest anyone be of the opinion that in taking possession of the provincial capital the intention is to impose Islamic extremism on the population.
The rebels are swift to acknowledge the vital role the Islamic brigades have played in aiding them in their liberation attempts. But the purpose of their assistance is widely misunderstood. (They're simply assisting fellow Sunnis against the ruling Shias.) And tragically so, since it convinces the West not to adequately arm the rebel brigades for fear that al-Qaeda linked militias will gain new weapons.
The truth being closer to the fact that the Islamist militias are already in possession of weapons far superior to those held by the Syrian Free Army. The rising power of the Islamic extremists in the ranks of the rebel movement is best left unacknowledged. The truth being somewhat inconvenient; that the rebels owe many of their successes to the better trained, experienced and better armed extremists.
One of the first things the rebels did in freeing the city from the regime forces was to return bread prices to prewar levels, and open a hotline for residents to report security issues. On the other hand, most residents have fled. The fierce fighting convinced them they would be safer elsewhere; anywhere else. And they have opted to stay away, anticipating government attacks following the rebel takeover.
Labels: Atrocities, Conflict, Controversy, Crisis Politics, Human Relations, Islamism, Revolution, Syria
posted by Pieface @ Monday, March 11, 2013
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