Podcasts about ahrar

Jerome Drevon is a Senior Analyst in Jihad and Modern Conflict at the International Crisis Group, where he undertakes research and analysis on Islamist militancy across regions. In episode 41 of Tahrir Podcast, we discussed his most recent book, “From Jihad to Politics: How Syrian Jihadis Embraced Politics,” (Oxford University Press 2024) which looks at why and how jihadis were able to take over the Syrian armed opposition, as well as why these very groups ultimately rejected domination by al-Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (IS) and embraced a different action plan. The book builds on years of impressive field research, including multiple trips to northwest Syria, and interviews with the main leaders of the armed opposition, especially Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra/Nusra Front–now called Hayatt Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), including an interview with Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dS5ZLqDFJfw Drevon's book (open access): https://t.co/uK4JfaAUVn Streaming everywhere! https://linktr.ee/TahrirPodcast Reach out! TahrirPodcast@gmail.com Support us on Patreon for as low as $2 per month ($20 per year)! https://www.patreon.com/TahrirPodcast

In 2013 vertrekken drie vrienden, Youssef, Iliass en Ismail, uit de Amsterdamse Vogelbuurt plotseling naar Syrië. Hun families blijven verbijsterd achter. Nergens zijn bellen gaan rinkelen dat de drie mogelijk radicaliseerden. In Syrië aangekomen sluiten de jonge mannen zich aan bij strijdgroep Ahrar al-Sham. Volgens het Openbaar Ministerie is dat een terreurorganisatie. Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken bestempelt de organisatie echter als 'gematigd'. Hoe kan dat?Advocaat Tamara Buruma stond Iliass J. bij en vertelt over de zaak. Hier lees je de uitspraak terug: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/#!/details?id=ECLI:NL:RBROT:2019:2421Hoger beroep: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/#!/details?id=ECLI:NL:GHDHA:2021:297Cassatie: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/#!/details?id=ECLI:NL:HR:2022:1858Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Het was al even geleden dat misdaadverslaggevers Erwin Waanders en Maarten Schoon met host Frank Bussink de ontwikkelingen in de Twentse onderwereld bespraken in de Tubantia Crime Podcast. Woensdag staken de heren de koppen weer bij elkaar. En er viel genoeg te bespreken. Over een bijzondere wapenvondst bij De Lutte en wat maakt Muhammed B. een terrorist? We beginnen met een zaak die een beetje is stilgehouden door politie en Justitie. Twee mannen uit Servië en Albanië aangehouden bij De Lutte. In een vrije dure Mercedes werden drie doorgeladen vuurwapens met geluidsdemper gevonden. „De Albanese man had een kaartje in z'n zak van een Rotterdamse kapperszaak", vertelt Erwin. „Justitie is ervan overtuigd dat hij op weg was naar Rotterdam om daar mensen om te brengen.” Terrorist?Is Muhammed B. uit Rijssen een terrorist? Volgens het Openbaar Ministerie wel. Maarten zat dinsdag bij de zaak tegen de man afkomstig uit Syrië. De zaak kwam aan het rollen toen mensen B. herkenden op foto's op Facebook. „Hij zou tussen 2012 en 2020 bij de terroristische groep Ahrar al-Sham hebben gehoord", vertelt Maarten, die het bewijs dat het OM tot nu heeft besproken erg mager. „Maar misschien zit er nog meer in het dossier.” En waar het OM in de zaak tegen Muhammed B. de kaarten nog tegen de borst houdt, doen ze dat volgens Erwin in de zaak rond de liquidatie van Musa Ata in Enschede allerminst. De verklaring van verdachte Gaytano G. werd met een reconstructie keihard onderuit gehaald. „Zijn verklaring lijkt absoluut niet te kunnen kloppen", vertelt Erwin. Cemil O.En dan is er nog Cemil O., in wiens garagebox twee Kalasjnikovs werden gevonden. „Hij heeft heel wat uit te leggen, want hoe kwamen die Kalasjnikovs in de garagebox terecht?” vraagt Erwin zich af. Cemil O. ontkent in alle toonaarden. „Maar de wapens liggen in zijn garagebox dus hij is verantwoordelijk.” De Hengeloër blijft daarom ook langer vastzitten. Dat O. nu langer blijft vastzitten, heeft waarschijnlijk ook gevolgen voor zijn vriendin en hun kinderen. Omdat zij uit haar huurhuis moest nadat wapenonderdelen waren gevonden, huurde O. een woning voor haar van 1700 euro per maand. Die kan hij niet meer betalen als hij langer vastzit. Dat betekent dat zijn vriendin en de kinderen op straat komen te staan. En dan komt jeugdzorg om de hoek kijken. „Daar liet de dame in kwestie in niet misverstane woorden weten het niet eens te zijn met de rechtbank", vertelt Erwin. „In woorden die we hier niet gaan herhalen", vult Frank aan. -- Vragen, tips of opmerkingen?Heb jij vragen, tips of opmerkingen? Mail ze dan naar podcast@tubantia.nl. We gaan vertrouwelijk met jouw informatie om.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Volg ons op Instagram: instagram.com/gedenkallah Stuur een DM als je een Sohba Podcast wil bijwonen. Volg ons op TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sultansvanislam --- Zoek rust bij Allah en vind zelfs rust bij de schepping. Maar wanneer iemand rust zoekt bij de schepping zal Allah hun harten tegen hem opzetten. Alles wat je bouwt in dit wereldse leven wordt minder, maar wat je bouwt voor het Hiernamaals groeit eeuwig. Ieder mens is vereerd door Allah. Dienstbaarheid en dienen in de Tariqa betekent niet de vloer vegen, maar om je eigen luiers te verschoon voordat je daden worden getoond aan de Profeet ﷺ: "Jullie daden voor mij getoond". De Shaykh werkt er daarom aan om zijn discipelen schoon te maken en dat is wat hij van ons wil, ook wel het verhaal van de Sultan en zijn minister. De eerste stap in Tariqa is trouwen! Het verhaal van de rijke discipelen en Grandhaykh Ubayd Allah al-Ahrar, of de illusie dat je de wereld moet veranderen. Er is geen tijd te verliezen als het aan komt op innerlijke reiniging. Het werk is nu. Moge Allah beschermen tegen onze innerlijke vijanden, dit zijn o.a. de lusten van het Varken, de woede van de Hond en het bedrog van de Demon.

From: Wisdom of Idiots by Idries Shah

Hazrat Khwaja Ubaid Ullah Ahrarؒ Kis Tarhan Insaniyat Ki Dad Rasi Kerty Thy? | 05 November 2021 | Subh E Noor

Hazrat Khwaja Ubaid Ullah Ahrarؒ Ka Khandani Tarruf | 05 November 2021 | Subh E Noor

Hazrat Khwaja Ubaid Ullah Ahrarؒ | 05 November 2021 | Subh E Noor

In this episode of Teeth Time, Stephen interviews Jasmine Ahrar, third year dental student and YouTuber. Jasmine is completing her training at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Her journey to the dental profession is far from the traditional route, and in this episode, she brings an entirely new perspective to the table. Jasmine discusses finding dentistry in an unexpected place and acting on it with perseverance. She explains how she completed her pre-requisite courses in only 2 years. She also talks about the experience of not being accepted on her first try and how she overcame that.Stephen and Jasmine talk dental school, treating patients, maintaining relationships, YouTube, and future plans. This is not an episode to miss!! Stick around for some bloopers at the end of the episode. Without further ado, it's Teeth Time!!JASMINE'S YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCcTiAv0wAx1tQfCPerElDQJASMINE'S INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jasmineahrar/

احمد احرار (۱۳۰۶ - ) سردبیر «اطلاعات» و مجلۀ «اطلاعات جوانان»، در دهه ۱۳۵۰ مصاحبه کننده: شیرین سمیعی پاریس ۱۷ و ۱۹ سپتامبر ۱۹۸۳ عناوین اصلی: سوابق تحصیلی و شروع فعالیت حرفه‌ای‌؛ مشکلات روزنامه‌نگاران قبل از انقلاب‌؛ سانسور‌؛ دولت و مطبوعات در دوران رژیم پهلوی‌؛ دولت و مطبوعات بعد از انقلاب‌؛ خمینی و بازرگان‌؛ خمینی و تیمور بختیار (۱۳۴۱- ۱۳۴۲)؛ شاپور بختیار و مطبوعات‌؛ سفر ژنرال هایزر به ایران.

Al jarenlang krijgt Labib al-Nahhas, de voormalige ‘buitenlandchef' van de jihadistische groepering Ahrar al-Sham, geld van Nederland voor een vredesproject in Syrië. Dat onthulde Argos begin oktober. De financiering loopt via het European Institute of Peace. Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken zegt bij dit soort projecten volledig te vertrouwen op dergelijke partnerorganisaties, zo'n 3000 in totaal. Maar hoe betrouwbaar zijn deze partners? Screenen zij de mensen met wie ze werken in vredesprojecten wel goed genoeg? En wat had het ministerie zelf kunnen doen?

Al jarenlang krijgt Labib al-Nahhas, de voormalige ‘buitenlandchef’ van de jihadistische groepering Ahrar al-Sham, geld van Nederland voor een vredesproject in Syrië. Dat onthulde Argos begin oktober. De financiering loopt via het European Institute of Peace. Het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken zegt bij dit soort projecten volledig te vertrouwen op dergelijke partnerorganisaties, zo’n 3000 in totaal. Maar hoe betrouwbaar zijn deze partners? Screenen zij de mensen met wie ze werken in vredesprojecten wel goed genoeg? En wat had het ministerie zelf kunnen doen?

Golden Chain Biographies Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the Golden Chain Shaykhs of Naqshbandi Tariqa Special Thanks To Narrator Abdul Razzaq Robert Leach Subscribe to the channel : @muhammadanway Android App - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nurmuhammad.muhammadanway IPhone App - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/muhammadan-way/id1244297852?mt=8 Facebook - www.facebook.com/shaykhnurjanmirahmadi Donate - www.nurmuhammad.com/donate Website - nurmuhammad.com/ TV Show - www.huberasul.net The Noble Naqshbandi Order proudly presents the ancient Islamic teaching and realities of the Prophetic Kingdom. Known as the Muhammadan Reality Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Al Qabbani Representing the Sultan al Awliya of The Naqshbandiyya Order Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Nazim al Haqqani Shaykh Sayed Nurjan MirAhmadi student of the way The Seekers of The Heart, The Lovers of the Prophetic Reality As ancient as time itself, seek to be a servant of the light and lovers. Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Chistiyya, Shadiliya, Rifai, Inyat Khan, Alawi and many more All are the Muhammadan Representatives to Creation nurmuhammad.com is pleased to present the Muhammadan TV. Network Donations http://www.nurmuhammad.com/donate to support These works nurmuhammad.com Shaykh sayed nurjan mirahmadi

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In this episode I speak with Quantum Entrepreneur Ahrar Ahman

From the principles of Khawaja Ubaidullah Ahrar, a 15th century spiritual leader of Tashkent, we learn that even the profane can be sanctified by stepping into a space of sacred attentiveness in every breath, where each moment is unique in its divine brilliance.

What level of a responsibility should a college have to take care of its students? That's the question Florida's Melissa McGlynn has for the entire St. Olaf College administration. By now, the Minnesota wrestling community knows that St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota announced it would discontinue wrestling at the end of the 2019-20 season. This announcement was released after business hours on Friday, October 18. I'm Hall of Fame wrestling writer and broadcaster Jason Bryant, and this is a special series of The Guillotine Grapevine about the impending loss of the St. Olaf Wrestling Program. Today's episode takes the parental perspective as I talk with Melissa McGlynn of Florida. Her son Robbie is a freshman this season at St. Olaf and came to Northfield to wrestle. The saying silence is golden has been used in many different forms over the years. One I remember was from AMC theaters back in the 1990s. In the case of St. Olaf College, silence is golden is becoming the rallying cry from the school's athletic and academic administration. When the news dropped on Friday, the timing was deliberate. The Friday afternoon news dump is designed to mitigate response during business hours. On Monday morning, me and many other wrestling fans and specifically St. Olaf parents and alums went looking to Athletic Director Ryan Bowles and school President David Anderson for answers. After two requests from Bowles were shot down, as he declined the opportunity offered to answer the athletic administrative side of the story, I tried Anderson. Messages for Anderson's office weren't declined – they weren't answered. Also unanswered was a request to Facilities Coordinator Judy Tegtmeyer. To be honest, St. Olaf wrestling has not been good for a while. A dismal win-loss record in dual meets and a small roster size. The program still been in the top 20 in recent memory. It's not very hard for a Division III wrestling program to get good quickly. All it takes is two good recruiting years. The value comes with Sean Ahrar, an Iranian-born U.S. military veteran who has served as the program's head coach for the past 15 years. That's also a part-time position. Ahrar has no paid assistant by the school and operates on what's been reported as a $25,000 a year budget. I have to go on those numbers, since as a private institution, St. Olaf is under no obligation to provide anyone, other than themselves, those numbers. Ahrar is firm, a man of strong convictions and a very no-nonsense demeanor. He cares about his athletes, as evidenced by working full-time hours for a job that pays him less than a student might make at the nearby Taco John's in Northfield. Ahrar is also convincing. His athletes believe in him. But what's also important is the parents also believe in him as someone who can teach and coach their sons. So when the very thing these student-athletes came to school for, wrestling, gets cut, it's logical they'd want answers. They aren't getting any as Bowles and Anderson, and essentially they're sticking to the silence is golden motto. Now, we get a parent perspective and how a school isn't just cutting a program, it's cutting off the parents of tuition-paying students from around Minnesota and the country. We hear from McGlynn and get some information from another parent, John Ridgway. All that on part one of our special Guillotine Grapevine series covering St. Olaf wrestling.SUBSCRIBE TO THE GUILLOTINE GRAPEVINEApple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spreaker | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Castbox | RSS SUPPORT THE SHOW If you'd like to SUPPORT THE SHOW and all the on-demand audio offerings, free newsletters and historical research AND you want to get some of that cool Compound gear, you can support this program by making a small monthly contribution to the network by following this link: https://patreon.com/mattalkonline/ GET DAILY WRESTLING NEWS! You like wrestling news, right? Of course you do. Did you know you can sign up for FREE to subscribe to the Mat Talk Online DAILY WRESTLING NEWS e-mail newsletter that's published EVERY morning with the previous day's top news stories from outlets all around the globe. It's free and it's a great way to start your wrestling day. Sign up at http://www.mattalkonline.com/news

Islam and Liberty Podcast presents a lively discussion on topical issues around Islam, Society and Economy led by leading experts. The general orientation is towards intellectual dimensions of the relationship between Islam and liberty with focus on religious, civil, political and economic liberties as understood in the Islamic discourse. This webinar was originally recorded on 30th June 2018.

Guests on today's show - Ahrar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahrarmonsur/ Grace: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dghernan/ Christina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinajiyunlee/ Links - Coffee N' Code Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UWCoffeeNCode/ Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/153918088626106/ Buy cool clothes: nklg.ca Snazzy music: https://soundcloud.com/adamcode_thezilchers and https://soundcloud.com/colourbody Check me out on facebook: https://facebook.com/whatsuploo -- This week's episode is all about Coffee ‘N Code! They're a club at the University of Waterloo for students learning to code to meet up once a week to connect with others, mentors and great resources! Coffee coffee coffee! -- “What’s Up, Waterloo?” is a vodcast featuring upcoming tech events in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Every week, Kalil interviews organizers, attends events, and provides a look at KW's latest events for students!

Guest on today's show - James Quiambao - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesquiambao/ Links - CUTC Ignite 2018 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cutc2018/ Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/160346831269398/ Check us out on facebook: https://facebook.com/whatsuploo -- This week's episode is all about Coffee ‘N Code! They're a club at the University of Waterloo for students learning to code to meet up once a week to connect with others, mentors and great resources! Coffee coffee coffee! -- “What’s Up, Waterloo?” is a vodcast featuring upcoming tech influencers in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Every week, Kalil and Ahrar interview organizers, attends events, and provides a look at KW's top minds!

In this episode we will look at the causes for the collapse of Aleppo, the battle of Deir er-Zor, Palmyra, and finally we wrapped up with a discussion on the Militant Group Ahrar al-Sham

Meer dan 70 doden vielen er gisteren bij een aanslag in een park in de Pakistaanse stad Lahore. De aanslag werd opgeëist door de terreurgroep Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, die is gelieerd aan de Taliban. Suzanna Koster is journalist en Pakistan-kenner en zal uitleggen tegen welke achtergrond deze aanslag plaatsvond.

Charles Lister comes back on the show for an in-depth discussion on jihadism in Syria. Some of the topics covered include: Islamism and jihadism in Syria prior to the 2011 uprising The entrance and evolution of Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, and Jaysh al-Islam into what became the Syrian war Why foreign fighters came into the Syrian conflict Why the Islamic State of Iraq decided to enter the war in April 2013 and what it was up to prior to the fitness in January 2014 What the growth of ISIS and later IS meant for the other extreme factions – JN, Ahrar, and JI. Links: The Syrian Jihad | Hurst Publishers Brookings Doha Center | Brookings Institution Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) | Twitter This episode also features an updated #SocialMedia segment, covering postings from November 11-20. Thanks to Haakon Jahr and Raihan Kadir for supporting the podcast. You can support the show, and get some cool rewards, by checking out the show’s Patreon page. The podcast is produced by Karl Morand. If you have feedback you can email podcast@jihadology.net, or find us on Twitter: @JihadPod.

You know Anahita Ahrar and you don’t even know it yet. Anahita is behind the scenes working with artists like… Read more about this episode...Episode #141 featuring Anahita Ahrar The post Episode #141 featuring Anahita Ahrar appeared first on Thank You Rob Podcast.

By Phil Greaves; Global Research, July 13, 2013 Recent reports within mainstream media are pushing the theory that divisions are forming within the various camps of opposition militants in Syria, while also making attempts to highlight the disparity between the supposed “moderate” rebel forces of the “FSA” – which does not exist beyond a small cadre of defectors with no autonomy inside Syria – and the Al Qaeda affiliated militia of Jabhat al Nusra, (JaN) or the Islamic state of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), while also whitewashing the presence of the larger Salafist brigades that fight alongside them, predominantly Ahrar al-Sham (SIF). To comprehend these alleged divisions, it is fundamental to understand what exactly the “FSA”, or “Supreme Military Council” consists of. In short, these Western-backed outfits and the oft-referenced “spokesmen” that carry them hold no value inside Syria, or any amount of authority among the plethora of militia fighting on the ground. This has been the case since day one of the Syrian crisis. The “FSA” was a retroactive PR stunt implemented by the West and the GCC to uphold a facade of “moderation”, and bolster the false image of militants fighting for “freedom and democracy”. In reality, the FSA represents a branding exercise; enabling foreign powers to rally behind disparate groups of militants – often led by extremists – to undertake their desired use and mask the true identity of what are, by western legal standards, “terrorists”. When the media refer to the “FSA”, at best it is lazy journalism, at worst it is disingenuous and designed to mislead the reader – otherwise known as propaganda. Yet the “FSA”, or “SMC” seem to have a new lease of life within the media. Furthermore, General Salim Idriss has been at the forefront of recent media campaigns to persuade foreign powers to increase military aid to the rebels (including a photo-op with renowned peace advocate John McCain); rebels that Idriss, nor any other commander in the “SMC” or “FSA” have any control over. I posited the theory in early May that the US and its GCC partners (now minus the deposed Qatari Emir) were attempting to marginalize the very militants they fomented, sponsored and armed in order to build a new “moderate” force under their control that is agreeable to the public, and the many European and American Parliamentarians and Congressman that have expressed concern about the “rising” influence of radicals among the militants they are indirectly supporting. Recent attempts to purport divisions could be construed as part of this “re-branding” policy. In a Reuters report titled “New front opens in Syria as rebels say Al Qaeda attack means war” we learn that a “Commander” from the Supreme Military Council was assassinated by ISIS’ Emir: Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Whether this is even true remains to be seen; several prominent analysts have cast doubt on the report, claiming it may be a psy-op on the FSA’s behalf; presumably in order to marginalize Baghdadi and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham militants that follow him. These artificial divisions bear hallmarks to recent reports and recent analysis covering the supposed “split” between the Syrian wing of Al Qaeda, otherwise known as Jabhat al Nusra (JaN), and the Iraqi wing of Al Qaeda, otherwise known as the Islamic state of Iraq (ISI). When Baghdadi, the Emir of ISI retroactively announced the “merger” of these groups and declared the militia should now be addressed as the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham, a spat broke out between him and Jabhat al-Nusra Emir Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. The following analysis and reports covering the dispute were blown out of all proportion and have continued in this vain ever since. Again, actual divisions on the ground between ISI and JaN were minimal and did not affect either tactical, nor ideological cooperation and kinship. ISI and JaN are one and the same, in both a tactical and ideological sense, there are slight differences in their outlook for a possible future Syria, but crucially, both the tactical relationship and core ideologies remain untouched and unified. Furthermore, JaN was concieved through ISI funding and logistic cooperation. Journalists and analysts suggesting these groups are separate do not understand their mutual ideology, or they are being purposefully misleading to suit an agenda – that agenda seems to be to highlight ISI as the “bad rebels”, this could be to allow space for the “good rebels” under JaN’s leadership – which are predominantly led by Syrians and not foreigners, therefore more likely to win “hearts and minds” – to join the “moderate” brigades under the SMC command. The first paragraph of the Reuters report fulfills the false narrative that the “FSA” represents a larger force than that of “Islamists”: (NB: Reuters lazy wording not mine.) Rivalries have been growing between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Islamists, whose smaller but more effective forces control most of the rebel-held parts of northern Syria more than two years after pro-democracy protests became an uprising. One has to wonder how the supposed “Islamists” which, according to Reuters are a smaller force than the “FSA” can possibly hold more territory than the Western-backed moderates. Again, Reuters is pushing a false narrative upon its readers to uphold the image that the majority of “rebels” fighting inside Syria are moderate secularists under the command of the “FSA”, or “Supreme Military Council”. The truth of the matter has always been that Jabhat al Nusra – who are one and the same as Al Qaeda in Iraq with slightly different outlooks for their respective homelands – along with the more populist, and larger in number Salafi militia, such as Ahrar al-Sham, who operate under the umbrella group the Syrian Islamic Front (SIF), represent the vast majority of opposition fighters in Syria. These groups have close links, and it is likely that fighters often interchange depending on expertise, experience and geographical requirements. Since the onset they have cooperated closely with logistics and paramilitary operations. Supposed “secular” opposition forces in Syria simply do not exist; under the “FSA” command or anywhere else. There are many smaller groups that espouse an inclusive, and indeed, moderate outlook for a future Syria. These groups have in the majority been rampant with criminality, infighting, and a lack of funds. Leaving disillusioned fighters with the option of joining the better organised and funded Salafi brigades; which have consistently received funding and arms from both state and non-state actors in the Gulf. The “FSA” commander quoted in the Reuters piece claims: “we are going to wipe the floor with them”. Presumably this is aimed at Baghdadi and his fellow ideologues, or as Reuters labels them: “Islamists”. Again, we are supposed to buy the theory that the FSA is in a position to strike anyone militarily inside Syria – let alone a commander of one of the strongest opposition groups operating. At this moment in time, the “FSA” as a fighting force could possibly be at its weakest since its artificial inception. Recent reports have suggested there are up to 6,000 foreign militants fighting against the government in Syria. It is likely that the vast majority of foreigners have joined the more radical outfits such as ISIS, for the same reasons as mentioned above, but can also be explained by the public sectarian tone being applied to the conflict, and calls to the regions Sunni community to engage in “Holy War” against the Syrian state from influential clerics such as Yusuf Qaradawi. Recent political developments also shed light on the “re-branding” of the Syrian opposition. The Emir of Qatar’s unexpected departure from the throne – to be replaced by his son – may have been an indicator as to Qatar’s failures in leading the Syrian insurgency. It is common knowledge that Saudi Arabia have been given the “Syria File”. A fact that is portrayed with no irony by western analysts; who manage to conveniently whitewash exactly which state actor is delegating the “files” – could it be “Mother”? This handing over of the baton was solidified with the departure of SNC Prime Minister Ghassan Hitto – a Muslim Brotherhood member chosen by Qatar in attempts to consolidate the Muslim Brotherhood’s hold on the SNC. Hitto was replaced by Ahmed al-Jarba, an influential tribal figure with close links to the Saudi Monarchy. Reports on the ground in Syria have also suggested that the rebels weapons flow – including such basics as ammunition – have come to an almost standstill. And several rebel commanders have relayed their frustration at the lack of promised US weapons. Recent developments in the US Congress have also given Obama the back-door he was looking for, at least to buy himself more time until a more suitable fighting force is able to undertake the task at hand – if such force ever materializes. Direct US arms supplies – or, to be precise; the official funding for arms supplies – have been blocked by Congress until the administration can determine exactly which rebel groups it intends to arm, and what exactly the administration intends to achieve from what seem to be futile efforts to validate the now almost two-year covert policy of arming the rebels, and achieving nothing but bloodshed and destruction – of course, it would be ridiculous to suggest that was the plan? US allies in the region will undoubtedly be working under their own terms with regard to their destructive policies in Syria, to some extent. Contrary to the Saud monarchies renewed efforts to wrest control of the insurgency; recent developments on the ground, along with Russia’s steadfast support and mass public opinion against supporting the extremist dominated rebels; the Syrian Army have kept the insurgency at bay whilst they choose their strategic victories. Homs is about to become the latest “rebel stronghold” to fall, as rebels announced this morning another “tactical retreat”. One imagines the rebel siege being laid upon 2 million civilians – a war-crime that Western “diplomats” seem reluctant to “intervene” on, or indeed make any mention of – in government controlled Western Aleppo will be the Syrian military’s next priority. The Saudis through their new puppet al-Jarba have promised a huge influx of “game-changing” weapons, but without a massive influx of military hardware, and indeed, trained fighters to use them, it appears the trajectory of the conflict will remain in the Syrian military’s favour. What the various actors supporting the insurgency are willing to do to change that trajectory in the short-term, if anything substantial, remains to be seen. There are at least three interested and powerful parties whose objectives can be served by allowing the Syrian conflict to drag on for years to come; yet none of them necessarily want to see Assad fall. Phil Greaves is a UK based writer/analyst, focusing on UK/US Foreign Policy and conflict analysis in the Middle East post WWII. http://notthemsmdotcom.wordpress.com.