France, Alternative Libertaire #224 - Syria communities being squeezed (fr)

Civil war rages in Syria. But what it really happens? Is this a battle between democracy 
and dictatorship? Is this a war between a secular state and guarantor of minority Islamic
terrorists? In truth, the country is far more fracture lines between two camps community 
clearly identified. ---- Hopes of peaceful change have vanished gradually as Syria plunged 
into civil war. The political opposition, undermined by divisions, is unable to provide a
credible alternative to the regime. Westerners, fearing a vacation policy after the fall 
of the regime, encouraged the creation of the Syrian National Council brings together some 
thirty organizations. After this failed attempt, a new structure was launched in November: 
the National Coalition of opposition forces and the revolution. It does not always 
unanimous: several opposition groups, especially the left, as well as Kurdish parties 
refuse to join.

Militarily, the situation is confused. The regime is losing ground and the country 
fragments into areas held by various armed factions. The most important of these is the 
regular army.

Crumbling geographical opposition
Weakened by mass desertions, it shrinks around a core Alawite religious group of the 
Al-Assad. The Free Syrian Army (SLA), which recruits mainly among Sunnis, a franchise is a 
structured army. Based in Turkey, his staff consists of senior deserters who spend more 
time courting Western monarchies and to organize anything. On the ground, the areas 
controlled by armed opposition increased significantly, but there is a geographical 
fragmentation. Units claiming to ASL control a neighborhood, a village, but have 
difficulties to coordinate them on larger territories. Made up of deserters and young 
inexperienced, lacking money, weapons and ammunition, ASL alone can not defeat militarily.

Fractures Community countries
In this context, the Islamist Sunni armed groups play an increasing role. Compounds 
Syrians and foreigners, they benefit from the experience of the international jihad 
fronts. Generously funded by monarchies, better armed than the ASL, they form the shock 
troops of the rebellion. Salafists are gaining popularity among Sunni minority but are 
afraid because they are not fighting for democracy but lead a holy war aimed first 
Alawites and Shiites, and also affects Christians. Minorities are torn between the 
rejection of the dictatorship and the refusal of Sunni domination. If the parties adhere 
to the Christian Coalition, fear Salafists in pushing some government side. In Aleppo, 
Christian militias armed by the government to defend their neighborhoods against ASL. 
Kurds advantage of the situation to advance their demands for autonomy, the areas they 
control the border with Turkey are defended with weapons in hand, both against the 
government and against the rebellion. But they are divided between the Democratic Union 
Party (Pud) Syrian branch of the PKK Turkish and organizations that make up the Kurdish 
National Council in Syria (CNKS) near the Iraqi Kurdish parties. In Syria, it is not 
well-defined two sides clash, the country is fractured along lines community. Since no 
force presence is capable of winning the civil war is likely to last.

Herv? (AL Marseille)