08-26-2014, 10:06 PM
SYRIA BACK AT FOREFRONT OF US FOCUS: SHIFTS IN US / SYRIA LANDSCAPE (IMO)
American Hostage Beheaded by Rebels/Terrorists
It's been a week since the Islamic State (IS) released the message to America and video of American photojournalist James Foley beheaded, after Foley had been held hostage in Syria by IS for over a year and a half. IS claimed that the beheading was in retaliation for American airstrikes against IS in Iraq over the past month.
US Officials Announce Possible Military Action in Syria -- against Rebels/Terrorists
The day after the Foley video was authenticated, the US Secretary of Defense and top military official indicated that IS could not be defeated by striking only at them in Iraq; they left the door open to hitting IS targets in Syria (a move which would reluctantly benefit the Assad regime).
Ref: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/21/world/...aq-crisis/
Assad and Company Regroup (and Spin?)
Since the release of the Foley video, the Assad regime is attempting to use the obvious brutality of the IS rebel/terrorist group to change perceptions of the Syrian government and Assad himself. Syrian officials have told media that the west should work with them to defeat terrorism in the region. Assad has been accused of working with ISIS in the past to create conflict between the competing rebel/terrorist groups; an accusation he denies.
Ref: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/...index.html
Qatar Negotiates IS Release of American Journalist -- HOSTAGE FREED
Qatar reportedly negotiated with Jabhat Al-Nusrah, another Islamic rebel group operating in Syria, for the release of another kidapped American journalist yesterday. The family of journalist Peter Theo Curtis, reportedly approached the government of Qatar directly for assistance weeks ago.
Ref: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nati...story.html
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have long been rumored to be supporting IS, a claim both countries' leaders deny. US Sec of State Kerry announced today that Qatar "no longer supports" Al-Nusrah.
American Jihadist Killed in Rebel/Terrorist Battle in Syria
And, today, it was reported that one of the 100 estimated American jihadists fighting for the IS rebel/terrorist group in Syria was killed in a weekend battle with rival rebel/terrorist group Nusrah Front.
Douglas McCain was originally from Minnesota and converted to Islam years ago. He was on the terrorist watch list and FBI radar. His family believed he had traveled to Turkey. Video report:
American Hostage Beheaded by Rebels/Terrorists
It's been a week since the Islamic State (IS) released the message to America and video of American photojournalist James Foley beheaded, after Foley had been held hostage in Syria by IS for over a year and a half. IS claimed that the beheading was in retaliation for American airstrikes against IS in Iraq over the past month.
US Officials Announce Possible Military Action in Syria -- against Rebels/Terrorists
The day after the Foley video was authenticated, the US Secretary of Defense and top military official indicated that IS could not be defeated by striking only at them in Iraq; they left the door open to hitting IS targets in Syria (a move which would reluctantly benefit the Assad regime).
Ref: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/21/world/...aq-crisis/
Assad and Company Regroup (and Spin?)
Since the release of the Foley video, the Assad regime is attempting to use the obvious brutality of the IS rebel/terrorist group to change perceptions of the Syrian government and Assad himself. Syrian officials have told media that the west should work with them to defeat terrorism in the region. Assad has been accused of working with ISIS in the past to create conflict between the competing rebel/terrorist groups; an accusation he denies.
Ref: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/...index.html
Qatar Negotiates IS Release of American Journalist -- HOSTAGE FREED
Qatar reportedly negotiated with Jabhat Al-Nusrah, another Islamic rebel group operating in Syria, for the release of another kidapped American journalist yesterday. The family of journalist Peter Theo Curtis, reportedly approached the government of Qatar directly for assistance weeks ago.
Ref: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/nati...story.html
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have long been rumored to be supporting IS, a claim both countries' leaders deny. US Sec of State Kerry announced today that Qatar "no longer supports" Al-Nusrah.
American Jihadist Killed in Rebel/Terrorist Battle in Syria
And, today, it was reported that one of the 100 estimated American jihadists fighting for the IS rebel/terrorist group in Syria was killed in a weekend battle with rival rebel/terrorist group Nusrah Front.
Douglas McCain was originally from Minnesota and converted to Islam years ago. He was on the terrorist watch list and FBI radar. His family believed he had traveled to Turkey. Video report: