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How Western Aid Bungled Syria’s Opposition & Paved the Way for ISIS
The takeover of large swaths of Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—and the declaration of a new caliphate within this territory—has captured the attention of every media outlet, pundit, and politician with even a passing interest in Middle East affairs.
The reason for the emergence of ISIS remains hotly contested. Certainly, the Syrian regime’s willingness to employ the worst forms of brutality has created an environment in which ISIS has thrived. Also important has been the Sunni extremism born in the ashes of Iraq. “Moderate opposition forces,” for their part, have also failed to stem the tide of radical extremism.
4 Aug 2014 / 1 note / Iraq MENA Syria Turkey Assistance Coordination Unit Foreign Aid Gaziantep Haqquna ISIL ISIS Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Local Administrative Council Support Unit Raqqa Syrian Civil War Syrian Interim Government Syrian Opposition Syrian Opposition Coalition Syrian Rebels Syrian National Coalition for Revolution and Opposition Forces