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A Revolt's Extremist Threat
(Washington Post) David Ignatius - This is an authentic, bottom-up revolution. It arose spontaneously in different parts of Syria, and every area has spun off its own battalions. Unless these militia-like groups can be gathered around a single source for money and weapons, they're unlikely to mount a unified resistance to Assad. Given the lack of coordinated military planning, terrorist attacks are one of the best tactics the rebels have. The alternative power center in the revolution is the emerging Salafist jihadist network. It's a mistake to see them all as al-Qaeda affiliates or wannabes. Many of them are simply pious Sunnis who know they can get funds to fight Assad by playing the jihadist card.