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Rebels' Missteps Weaken Support among Syrians
(New York Times) Anne Barnard - Syria's rebel fighters are losing crucial support from a public increasingly disgusted by the actions of some rebels, including poorly planned missions, senseless destruction, criminal behavior and the cold-blooded killing of prisoners. A dampening of support undermines the rebels' ability to fight and win what has become a devastating war of attrition. The rebel shortcomings have been compounded by changes in the opposition, from a force of civilians and defected soldiers who took up arms after the government used lethal force on peaceful protesters to one that is increasingly seeded with extremist jihadis - radicalization that has made Western nations more reluctant to give rebels the arms that might help break the deadlock.