Syria opposition chiefs at odds over military strategy

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The leaders of the political and armed wings of Syria’s opposition appear to be at odds over the authority of a military council that was announced Thursday, underscoring divisions that are hampering efforts to lead an uprising.

Syrian National Council (SNC) leader Burhan Ghalioun said his political opposition group had formed a military body to oversee and organize armed rebels within the country under a unified leadership.

“The creation of the military council was agreed upon by all armed forces in Syria,” he told a news conference in Paris on Thursday. “We will be like a defense ministry.”

But only a few hours later, Free Syrian Army (FSA) chief Colonel Riad al-Asaad said that he has not been involved in the formation of a military council.

“I don’t know about the objectives of this body,” said Asaad, a figurehead for the collection of army deserters and civilians who have taken up arms.

“We want actions and not just talk,” he said, adding that he spoke with Ghalioun Wednesday night but that no agreement was finalized.

COUNCIL CRITICISED BY SYRIANS

The two bodies, the SNC and FSA, have at times appeared at odds on strategy, with the Council initially reluctant to endorse the FSA’s military response to a government crackdown.

The SNC has been criticized by some Syrians for not overtly backing armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, which is being led by the Free Syrian Army.

Ghalioun said the pro-democracy movement which started a year ago had remained peaceful for months but due to the violent government response it had to create the military council.

Ghalioun aide Ausama Monajed told reporters the military body would bring all the factions fighting the Syrian government under one umbrella, evaluate their military needs and try to match them with offers of aid from abroad.

Monajed said several countries, including Saudi Arabia, have offered to provide weapons to the rebels.

“Arms are already being smuggled whether we like it or not, so our role is to organize the process and make sure weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands on the ground,” he said.

A prominent academic, Ghalioun has been advocating democracy in Syria since the 1970s, when Assad’s father was in power. But after months of bloodshed and internal squabbling among the opposition his ability to lead has been called into question.

Sunday, at least 20 prominent members of the 270-strong SNC formed a splinter organization called the Syrian Patriotic Group. They complained the SNC had failed to secure satisfactory results or to listen to the demands of the rebels inside Syria.

Reuters

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6 responses to “Syria opposition chiefs at odds over military strategy”

  1. rossoferrari Avatar
    rossoferrari

    Come on man, it never ceases to amaze me……It is all about who is going to be the leader/president. It is sickening, it is appalling that when you see the on-going massacres and butchering of all kind of human, yet you have the bickering on who is going to be on top and decide for the syrians. By that time all syrians will be finished, keep it up.

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Come on man, it never ceases to amaze me……It is all about who is going to be the leader/president. It is sickening, it is appalling that when you see the on-going massacres and butchering of all kind of human, yet you have the bickering on who is going to be on top and decide for the syrians. By that time all syrians will be finished, keep it up.

  3. wargame1 Avatar
    wargame1

    Ghalioun is a Assad stooge , he is just trying to create a rift among the Syrian resistance. It will make some trouble for a time and then the free Syrian army will capture him. When a resistance is already formed then it is a crime to form another resistance under different leadership. This 
    Ghalioun should be grilled.

  4.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Ghalioun is a Assad stooge , he is just trying to create a rift among the Syrian resistance. It will make some trouble for a time and then the free Syrian army will capture him. When a resistance is already formed then it is a crime to form another resistance under different leadership. This 
    Ghalioun should be grilled.

  5. this is what Im talking about. You cant arm them openly without a clear structure. even the fsa has cracks. the revolution is going to turn into a civil war. Remember what Im Saying. Multiple groups fighting the government will turn into multiple groups fighting for power as soon as Bashar is out and he will be out sooner or later. If he remains in Syria he will control 2 or 3 cities barely and the rest in chaos. 

    You have to remember they have been under dictatorship for 52 years. Hafiz Assad was not the one that created the Bathist party or the revolution. It was Hafiz Amin and Assad was his defense minister. Amin ruled for 11 years and then Assad forced him to retire and name him as president.

    You cant expect people that have been under 52 years of dictatorship to just become democratic. After the french revolution they got the royal family out but had an emperor after that and slowly became democratic.

    Also as Wargame1 mentioned (Im not saying its true) But Ghalioun was allowed in and out of Syria the entire time even under Assad Sr and we all know him. How is it Assad Sr would kill a man for pointing at his house and allow a activist to roam around free??? Just wondering.

  6. Bad Ass Avatar

    this is what Im talking about. You cant army them openly without a clear structure. even the fsa has cracks. the revolution is going to turn into a civil war. Remember what Im Saying. Multiple groups fighting the government will turn into multiple groups fighting for power as soon as Bashar is out and he will be out sooner or later. If he remains in Syria he will control 2 or 3 cities barely and the rest in chaos. 

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