Tuesday, January 03, 2012

What is the Syrian National Council

The brave Syrian opposition figure, Haytham Al-Manna`, gives the best definition I have seen of the Syrian National Council: and he should know because he has been negotiating with them for a month now, prior to signing the agreement that Burhan Ghalyun quickly reneged on.  Here is what Al-Manna` said: "قال مناع: «المجلس الوطني مكون من ثلاثة تيارات سورية: هي التيار الديني أي الإخوان المسلمين وغيرهم. والتيار اليميني الليبرالي. واليمين المتطرف الإسلامي وحتى وقت قريب كان هذا التيار يكفر النصيريين والشيعة وغيرهما»."
(Manna` said: The [Syrian] National Council consists of three Syrian currents: the religious one, i.e., the Muslim Brotherhood and others.  And the Right-wing liberals.  And the far-right Islamist current, which until very recently was declaring the unbelief of `Alawites and Shi`ites and others.)  
You expect me or you expect other progressives to legitimize such lousy political forces--all three of them???  You must be kidding me.