Muslim Brotherhood Sets Up Militia in Syria, Competes With Free Syria Army
The Muslim Brotherhood, as I’ve documented in detail, is already preparing to outmaneuver its secular rivals within the Syrian opposition once the Assad regime falls. It already has a head start because of its established networks outside of Syria. Now, it has laid the groundwork to launch its own political party and even founded its own militia.
Perhaps eager to avoid an embarrassing electoral loss like it did in Libya, the Brotherhood is lowering expectations by saying it won’t get more than 25% of the vote in the post-Assad election. It is possible that this estimate has some grounding in reality, as Syrian opposition figures and some experts like Dr. Barry Rubin have given a similar figure for years.
The establishment of a militia separate from the main rebel forces, called the Free Syria Army, is the most important move, as it sets the Brotherhood up as the potential protector of citizens if Syria disintegrates into a sectarian-based free-for-all once Assad falls. As we saw in Iraq, non-extremists will support militias if their lives and well-being depend upon it.
Click here to read the rest of my analysis for RadicalIslam.org.
2012-08-06 10:55:40
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