Epstein Secrets

apostates. Hamas, in contrast, does not call for the overthrow of Arab regimes and works with Shiite Iran and the Alawite-dominated secular regime in Damascus, pragmatically preferring weapons, money, and assistance in training to ideological consistency. Hamas, like its parent organization, the Muslim Bro

e Middle East, is that Hamas accepts elections (and, in fact, took power in Gaza in part because of them) while al Qaeda vehemently rejects them. For Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Ladin's deputy and presumed heir- apparent, elections put man's (and, even worse, woman's) wishes above God's. A democratic government cou

t and effective, the regime could endure. Although they continue to function, neither appears intact any longer; their control of key areas such as Damascus and Aleppo is in doubt, and the reliability of their personnel, given defections, is no longer certain. We had thought that there was a reasonable

bout 90 bombings in Syria over the past six months were the work of "organizations that are close to al-Qaeda or jihadist groups." Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in February called on supporters in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq to join the fight against Assad, and a number seem to have responded, with opportuniti

ing began more than a year ago, few predicted the regime of President Bashar al-Assad would ever teeter toward collapse. Now, though, the demise of Damascus's current leadership appears inevitable, and Syria's revolution will likely be an unpredictable, protracted, and grim affair. Some see similarities

, or both. Perhaps more troubling, Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters from Iraq have streamed into Syria, acting, in part, on orders from Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. In the past, Al Qaeda-in-Iraq fighters attempted to use chemical weapons, most notably attacks that sought to release large clouds of chlorine gas

to join the revolutionaries. A previously unknown group calling itself the al-Nusra Front has asserted responsibility for bombings in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo using language and imagery reminiscent of the statements and videos put out by al-Qaeda-affiliated organizations in Iraq, although no ev

e trying to inject themselves into the Syrian revolution, although they stress that the Islamist radicals' impact has been limited. Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri called on "mujaheddin" to head to Syria in support of the rebels earlier this year, and Western diplomats are convinced that operatives affiliated

sing began more than a year ago, =ew predicted the regime of President Bashar al-Assad would ever teeter tow=rd collapse. Now, though, the demise of Damascus's current leadership appe=rs inevitable, and Syria's revolution will likely be an unpredictable, protracted, and grim affair. Some see sim=larities

r.com/World/Middle-East/2012/0221/As-A=-Qaeda- moves-fight-to-Syria-violence-in-lraq-drops-sharply> , acting, in part, on orders from Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. In the past, Al Qaeda-in=lraq fighters attempted to use chemical weapons, most notably attacks that=sought to release large clouds of chlorine gas

t and not crush the protests was a vital lesson for the Egyptian generals. The alternative is the cruelty of the dictators' fightbacks in Tripoli and Damascus. Regional differences were ignored in the chain reaction that followed. Yemen's protests were galvanised by the drama in Cairo's Tahrir Square but th

Arab stagnation. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_018093 --- PAGE BREAK --- Article 3. The New Yorker Zawahiri at the Helm Lawrence Wright June 16, 2011 -- Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon, has come into his inheritance—A1] Qaeda—at a time when the organization is at its nadir. Osama bin Laden, its charismatic found

stituted a victory for the radical Islamist group that increased its credibility dramatically. The 2006 military confrontation was also a victory for Damascus, as it showed the Islamic world that Syria was the only nation-state supporting effective resistance to Israel. It also showed Israel and the United

nown to analysts by his first name) was the boss's key link with the outside, officials see him as more important than bin Laden's nominal successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Here are the highlights: •Bin Laden retained until his death a passion to launch a significant attack against the United States, ideally linked to t