Most Syrian rebels sympathise with Isis, says thinktank

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Centre on Religion and Geopolitics says at least 65,000 jihadist fighters could fill vacuum if Islamic State was defeated
Al-Nusra Front fighters. The report warned about leaving the group unchallenged.

More than half of the rebel fighters in Syria who are opposing President Bashar al-Assad are sympathetic to Islamic State views, a leading thinktank has claimed.

The Centre on Religion and Geopolitics said efforts to wipe out Isis in Syria and Iraq would not end the the global threat from jihadi groups because extremist views were common among Syrian fighters of all stripes.

At least 15 militias, numbering 65,000 fighters, could fill any vacuum resulting from a defeat of Isis in Syria and Iraq by a coalition led by the US, a report by the group found.

About 60% of fighters in rebel factions in Syria identified with a religious and political ideology similar to that of the terror group, it added.

The thinktank, run by the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, said: “The west risks making a strategic failure by focusing only on IS. Defeating it militarily will not end global jihadism. We cannot bomb an ideology, but our war is ideological.”

The report comes after the United Nations agreed a resolution endorsing the start of “urgent” formal negotiations between Assad’s regime and moderate opposition groups early next month.

But the centre warned the radical groups, including al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham, could benefit if they went “unchallenged”.

It added: “If Isis is defeated, there are at least 65,000 fighters belonging to other Salafi-jihadi groups ready to take its place.

“The greatest danger to the international community are the groups that share the ideology of Isis, but are being ignored in the battle to defeat the group.

“While military efforts against Isis are necessary, policy makers must recognise that its defeat will not end the threat of Salafi-jihadism unless it is accompanied by an intellectual and theological defeat of the pernicious ideology that drives it.”

[Jacque67 7,328]

Ahh. The think tank run by Tony Blair's faith foundation..

[ExPatty 502]

No surprise. Polls show tens of millions of people support Isis. It cannot exist except for widespread support.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

No surprise. Polls show tens of millions of people support Isis. It cannot exist except for widespread support.

wait are you saying there are tens of millions of Radical islamist in this world ?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Most people feel pity for people who do wrong. You just pity them that their life is so bad they have to go around killing, hating and instilling chaos and panic.

I feel sympathy for racist. Doesn't mean I support their cause, I just feel sorry for them.

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is ISIS racist?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

is ISIS racist?

Everything is racist

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True

[ExPatty 502]

wait are you saying there are tens of millions of Radical islamist in this world ?

I don't know how you define radical islamist, so I cannot answer your question until you do so.

[smilesammich 10,727]

The Centre on Religion and Geopolitics said efforts to wipe out Isis in Syria and Iraq would not end the global threat from jihadi groups because extremist views were common among Syrian fighters of all stripes.

duh.