Just A Reminder: Sunnis And Shiites Historically United In Anti-Western Global Jihad (Plus: "History" Also A Pretty Good Answer To Obama's Engagement With Syria)
Well sure they seem awful united when they're meeting to undermine Israel or plan their retaliation to "slights against Islam." But that makes no sense, right?
[AQI leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi's] message... connect with a dominant theme throughout not only al-Qaida's command but also the jihadist forces and regimes around the world. Ideologically, despite their divisions and diverse strategies, the Salafists and Khomeinists have a common approach on how to deal with the United States. And this attitude has been embodied by multiple speeches, statements, and declarations since the early 1990s. From the powerful doctrinal positions of Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi on al-Jazeera, al-Qaida's Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the "agenda" is one: the United States must pull its forces outside the region and keep them inside its own borders. Baghdadi and many other jihadist commanders, commentators and activists see the big picture as an effort, or a jihad, against all kuffar (infidel) forces in the region. In his speech addressed to the new U.S. leadership, al-Qaida Iraq's "emir" also warned France and Russia from interfering inside the borders of his future caliphate.
But hey - maybe we can still use their differences to split them apart, like peeling Syria away from Iran? That's certainly the idea behind Obama's very first move as President elect, when he sent his virulently anti-Israel adviser Robert Malley to Damascus. That visit seems to have had the opposite effect of moving Assad towards peace. But maybe if they tried again really sincerely? Yeah, not so much:
"Not talking doesn't make us look tough - it makes us look arrogant," President-elect Barack Obama declares. Throughout his campaign, he has promised renewed engagement after eight years of moribund diplomacy. Chief among his diplomatic targets is Syria, low-hanging fruit unencumbered by the political minefield that would result from engaging the Hamas-dominated Palestinian government. Obama has already dispatched once and future adviser Robert Malley to discuss his regional agenda with Syrian leaders... Syria cannot be flipped. ... the real problem has less to do with any U.S. administration and much more to do with Arab history and political culture... Impeded by pride, culture and history, Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus will never coexist as partners... Diplomats seeking to flip Assad are asking him to commit political suicide.... Aid will not facilitate. For Assad to settle for less than Egypt's aid package would be to confirm his subordination to Hosni Mubarak. A higher package is outside reality.
Etc. Etc. Because honestly: other than having an overarching desire to militarily defeat the agreed-upon enemies of Allah before they fall into fighting amongst themselves, what do jihadist Sunnis and Shiites really have in common? And other than having a 1,000 year competition with the US's other Arab allies, what does Assad really have against moving into the US orbit? If you have the time, Ithough, suggest going to your local university campus or foreign policy think tank. They'll be happy to explain to you how you have nothing to worry about because the partisans of political Islam are hopelessly divided but Syria is ready to sign up as a secular US ally.
References:
* Islamic summit draft communique accuses Israel of 'war crimes' [Ha'aretz]
* Al-Qaida-Iraq's Message to the New "Rulers of the White House" [CT Blog]
* Obama’s Road to Damascus [FrontPage]
* Syria: On Second Thought, We're Gonna Wait A Few More Months Before Talking About A Peace Deal (UPDATED AND BUMPED: Assad Convinced By Malley Not Brzezinski?) [MR]
* Syria Can't Be Flipped [Michael Rubin]
Previously:
* Hezbollah: We're Going To Commit Genocide To Avenge That Mughniyah Guy Who Never Had Anything To Do With Us
* Of Course: Jimmy Carter To Meet With Hamas Leaders In Syria?
* Obama: We Need To Start Sucking Up To Iran Right Now So We Can Get Out Of Iraq (Plus: Liberal American Jews Torn Between Old Anti-Israel Democrat And New Anti-Israel Democrat)
