Fundamentalism no benefit to Syria
by Rime Allaf from the Middle East Times
In fact, the attempted "Syrianization" of all regional trouble-making elements is experiencing such a surge of its own, that known journalists, writing in Saudi media, are now even trying to re-brand international enemy number one, Osama Bin Laden, as not really Saudi, since his mother is Syrian ... Some observers have presented theories conflicting with the anti-Syrian narrative. Whether to gather support during election time or to challenge Shiite groups, the Hariri movement - with the blessing of Saudi Arabia and the US - has allegedly courted Sunni Islamists in northern Lebanon, and directly financed groups in Tripoli and Akkar. If true, it is not clear why the whole scheme backfired, but financing problems have been mentioned as issues of contention, in addition to the unforeseen radicalization of the groups.