North Storm Brigade

"Amar al-Dadikhi, commander of the North Storm brigade, one of many fighting groups seeking the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, said in interviews that he would free the nine remaining hostages if the Syrian government released two prominent opposition figures and if Lebanon freed all Syrian activists in government custody."  What the New York Times does not tell you is that some of the prisoners in Lebanon that this guy wants to be released as members of Al-Qa`idah.  But hey: Al-Qa`idah is on the New York Times side these days.  Let me guess: Human Rights Watch's office in Beirut (a mere branch of March 14) won't comment on the use of innocent civilians by Syrian revolutionaries as bargaining chips.