islamist progress in Syria and Egypt.

"Jabhat al-Nusra’s growing visibility on the streets of Syrian cities highlights one of the reasons the United States and its allies have been reluctant to arm Syrian rebels even as Obama administration officials repeatedly insist that Assad must go. Fears are widespread among Western governments that weapons sent to the rebels could wind up in the hands of extremists and be turned against their benefactors in a region already taut with sectarian and geopolitical rivalries.

In an interview at the mosque that serves as his headquarters in the Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo, Jabhat al-Nusra commander Abu Ibrahim said he has 300 men under his control. About 50 of his fighters were seen milling around the mosque, many wearing the baggy, calf-length pants and long beards associated with devout Islamists. Others were inside."  Washpost

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The rebels have been dominated by Sunni jihadis from the beginning of the civil war.  Their influence has now become so evident that not even the Washington Post can ignore it.  pl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-syria-group-suspected-of-al-qaeda-links-gaining-prominence-in-war-to-topple-assad/2012/08/19/c7cffd66-ea22-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_story.html

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"Given some of the other moves that Morsi and those around him have made, there is reason to be concerned. Morsi has appointed a new minister of information, Salah Abdul Maqsud; he, too, comes from the Muslim Brotherhood and actively supports the move to replace 50 leading editors and journalists. Charges have been filed against the editor of the independent opposition newspaperal-Dustour for insulting the president. It is probably no accident that the state media’s tone has changed markedly in the past week — and is far more favorable toward Morsi." Dennis Ross

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You heard it here first.  pl

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dennis-ross-egypts-new-leaders-must-accept-reality/2012/08/19/46e60810-e8ad-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_story.html

Comments

[Babak Makkinejad]

I think you are underestimating the fear that small Christian communities have of outsiders coming into their towns.

They are very provincial in their sentiments; as far as I have been able to understand.

[Babak Makkinejad]

Hmmm...

In addition to Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE, Yemen, Oman, and Saudi Arabia all have sizable minority religious communities; in many cases Shia and in some Shia, Alevi/Alawite, Druze, Yazidi, and others.

Trying to oppose Iranian power by relying on some sort of Sunni-Shia divide is dangeorus not to Iran but to these other states that enumerated above - it harms their own internal peace and tranquility as the war in Syria drags on.

In my opinion, without Egypt the formation of a Sunni front is also impossible.

The game is up, in my opinion.

[Babak Makkinejad]

Mr. Muris does not represent - or is not party to - of the political and religious movements that Saudi money has fostered in Pakistan and elsewhere.

He belongs to Muslim Brotherhood, the oldest overtly political movement among Sunni Muslims in the Middle East.

Mr. Erdogan also is an MB.

The Madrassahs in Pakistan are not producing Muslims indoctrinated with the political program of Muslim Brotherhood.

[Babak Makkinejad]

Revolutions are acts of emotion and not Reason.

Economic considerations will not substantially alter the flow of events in Egyot - in my opinion.

[mo]

Babak,
The fears and sentiments are very real and your understanding is correct in that sense but they are not as widespread as people like to make out. Many Christian areas today were once Shia areas while the Hizballah "strongholds" in the suburbd of Beirut were once Christian dominated areas. However, the strategy of "The Shia are coming" was played out a couple of years ago in Lebanon and it blew over quickly as the strategy fell on its face in light of the obvious evidence.

[Mark Logan]

Babak,

I quite agree. Principles are likely to be among the last things questioned.

[FB Ali]

I doubt if the current situation is conducive to such a development.

Yes, I believe most of the 9/11 attackers were Saudis.

[Matthew]

Babak: What's also ignored is that the "Christian Reformation" lead to the Thirty Years War, one of the worst catastrophes to ever befall Christiandom. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years'_War

An estimated 8 million dead.

Why would a Muslim want to embrace that?

[Jim Ticehurst]

Correction...It was Qatar that provided the 2 Billion (US) to Egypt..Not Kuwait.. Also there are some interesting storys on the Web..One at the CSM..Christian science Monitor today titled..
"Egypts Morsi Cleans House..But a Coup..? hardly"
then go's on by stating.."The Outgoing Old Guard Retains Both Influence and Great Wealth.."

Speaking of Coups...Who is next in Line if Something should happen now to President Morsi in the Way of Sadats Demise....? Who Takes over..? Would that be the New Egyptian Vice President..Sr. Judge Mahmoud Mekki..The Man the MB Really wanted to be thier Candidate for President..? Strange position for a Judge whos claim to fame is getting arrested for Demanding the Seperation of Powers between the Judiciary and Mubarek..(The executive)

He started His career in the State police..but became a lawer and moved into the Court systems as a Judge..Wonder how much real background US (CIA) Intel has on MEKKI in that event..

Right now...The USA has complete confidence in US Educated President Morsi..a long time resident of the USA..two of his sons are US Citizens..

So much Confidence in Fact..That according to a report at CNN..Security Clearance website..titled
"Panetta tries to Help Secure Siani with Intel Aid.." then..US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is offering Egypt a Package of Classified Intelligence sharing Capabilitys"..

So..now we support Islamic Revolutions..and as the saying go's.."To Argue with a Person (Or Administration) who has Renounced The Use of Reason..Is Like Adminstering Medicine to the Dead..

[Babak Makkinejad]

That's what I am saying....

[zanzibar]

FB

Thanks as always for your illuminating response.

My question is that it seems that Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi Islam is destabilizing the current order in many Islamic majority states by creating violent conflict. Why haven't these national and/or regional forms of Islam gone after the Saudi sponsors directly? I speculate the House of Saud is a shaky monarchy that does not have the undivided loyalty of all the Saudis.