Re: Is Obama's Public Support of the Syrian Rebels a Diversionary Foreign Policy Tact
Here is a chart from my link. Hope you can see it okay. If not, it is available in the article. It pretty much breaks down all the different groups involved. That is why it's so dangerous for us to become involved in these altercations. We really don't know who the "good" guys are.
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ChrisL, upon reading your article you linked I must question the facts it contains.
First off, it sates "The Syrian Opposition Coalition and SMC are designed to impose a top-down national strategy and governing structure for the political and military arms of the Syrian opposition,"
This is misleading: the SMC is not a top-down organization, it is the opposite.
"Its legitimacy is derived from the bottom-
up, rather than top-down, and it has no institutional legitimacy apart from the legitimacy of the commanders associated with the council. Thus, the SMC is not structurally cohesive, and its ability to enforce command and control is dependent on the cooperation of each of its members. The incorporation of rebel networks has resulted in chains of command that are not uniform across the five fronts, with each sub-unit retaining their own unique authority structures. "
Source:
http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/The-Free-Syrian-Army-24MAR.pdf
I believe The Institute for the Study of War is correct on this, as the SMC is a coordination effort, not really a combined military chain of command.
Secondly, I believe the map (Chart? Graph?) you showed oversimplifies the complex relations between the Supreme Joint Military Command and the various subgroups.
Furthermore, also from the .pdf I linked, "The SMC has the potential to serve as a check on radicalization and help to assert a moderate authority in Syria. If the SMC can create enough incentives for moderation it will likely be able to marginalize the most radical elements within its structure. To this end, the SMC has recognized the importance of the inclusion of some of the more radical forces, while still drawing a red line at the inclusion of forces that seek the destruction of a Syrian state, such as jihadist groups like Jabhat nusra."
Back to your image (picture?) it does make a point of showing the connection between the SMC and the subgroups. Take note how the Free Syrian Army (Leadership Incorporated, by the way) has a stronger bond than the Syrian Islamic Front. This is a good sign, because the FSA has reportedly had difficulties with the jihadists groups like these.
Source:
Inside Jabhat al Nusra - the most extreme wing of Syria's struggle - Telegraph
and
With wary eye, Syrian rebels welcome Islamists into their ranks | The Times of Israel
Obviously, neither of us can be certain, seeing as the announcement for the arming of the SMC was very recent. Nevertheless, I feel those who make the claim "We are arming Islamists/Extremists" to be a bit far fetched.