tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273076348938263308.post2198950782997781187..comments2023-10-24T02:31:18.905-07:00Comments on insufficient respect: Hard ChoicesMichael Neumannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558892758943318577noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273076348938263308.post-45700716099812833252015-02-08T07:47:58.455-08:002015-02-08T07:47:58.455-08:00Michael - My apologies for coming to this belatedl...Michael - My apologies for coming to this belatedly. I agree with much of what you say here about US intentions and policies . But I can't make much sense of assertions like "For many secularists, an alliance with Jabhat al Nusra is an abomination promising an abhorrent future." and even less of "Secular activists who reject Jabhat al Nusra have therefore in effect chosen Assad. " Your refusal to be more concrete about who you are referring to does not help. I can't think of any Syrian "activists" who would fall into this category. The US bombings of JaN and Ahrar ash-Sham were condemned across the political spectrum.<br /><br />I also think you underestimate the dangers that arise from the prominent role that JaN plays in the armed opposition. Alliances with JaN - both tactical and strategic - may well be necessary, but that shouldn't obscure the fact that JaN dominance in a post-Asad world would indeed be an "abhorrent future" (or that there is also a significant downside to their contemporary role).<br />The Magpie's Nesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03540906098106833025noreply@blogger.com