© New Eastern Outlook
Jaysh al-Islam is a stalwart ally of US State Department-listed terrorist organization al-Nusra, though one would never suspect as much reading weepy Western eulogies over the terrorist organization leader's death. The commander of terrorist organization and Al Qaeda affiliate Jaysh al-Islam (the Army of Islam), "Sheikh" Zahran Alloush, was killed in a Syrian airstrike this week in the suburbs of Damascus.
In a surreal, coordinated propaganda campaign, the Western media sidestepped Alloush's praise of and coordination with US State Department-listed foreign terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra, previously known as Al Qaeda in Iraq - and indeed, the very terrorist organization that the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL/Daesh) itself sprung up from.
The West itself has for years now, reported on Jaysh al-Islam's collaboration with Al Qaeda. A March 2013 Institute for the Study of War report authored by now
disgraced "expert" Elizabeth O'Bagy - a paid lobbyist who in fact attempted to lie about the presence of "moderate Syrian opposition," titled, "
The Free Syrian Army" (.pdf) would note regarding the terrorist organization that:
"Liwa al-Islam [now known as Jaysh al-Islam] is a driving force behind actions in Damascus, and is part of the current multilateral effort, codenamed "Operation Epic in the Capital of the Omayyads," to gain ground and prepare for later sustained efforts against regime forces in the city. Liwa al-Islam is known to cooperate with Jabhat Nusra and conduct joint operations."
Ironically, despite knowing the various affiliations "rebel groups" in Syria have with Al Qaeda, O'Bagy herself, along with the so-called Institute for the Study of War -
an arms industry-funded think tank - have attempted to perpetuate Western support of these "rebel groups," which in turn have perpetuated the deadly conflict raging in Syria.
The profitable war, and the US dominated MENA region that would form as a result of its successful execution, helps explain why the West is so interested in portraying terrorists as "moderates," and going as far as mourning the death of a terrorist leader who openly worked with and praised Al Qaeda.
Comment: The Middle East is looking a bit like a powder keg ready to blow as we start off 2016. See more: