Saturday, August 23, 2014

West Poised to Join Forces with Assad in Face of Islamic State

THE INDEPENDENT: Covert co-operation may signal the beginning of a once unthinkable alliance

Islamist forces are fighting their way into western Syria from bases further east, bringing forward the prospect of US military intervention to stop their advance. If Isis, which styles itself Islamic State, threatens to take all or part of Aleppo, establishing complete dominance over the anti-government rebels, the US may be compelled to act publicly or secretly in concert with President Bashar al-Assad, whom it has been trying to displace. » | Patrick Cockburn | Friday, August 22, 2014