"... Nusra aims to revive the Islamic caliphate, which dates back to the Prophet Mohammad’s seventh-century companions, forerunners of the large empire that once stretched into Europe. That prospect alarms many in Syria, from minority Christians, Alawites and Shiites to traditionally conservative but tolerant Sunnis who are concerned that Nusra would try to impose Taliban-style rule. Fear of religion-based repression has already prompted Kurds to barricade their quarter of Aleppo city and was behind fierce clashes between Kurdish and Nusra fighters in the border town of Ras al Ain in November." Reuters in the Daily Star
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What part of this do the boys and girls at Foggy Bottom not understand? Nusra does not want Syria without Assad. What it wants is no Syria at all. Salafi Islamists of this type think that anything other than a world-wide theocracy is simply impious. They see the future of the region now known as Syria to be as an integral part of that theocracy. The borders and laws of present day Syria mean nothing to them.
Would they win control post Assad? We do not know. pl
