So, the Syrian rebel leadership did not know that the regime would respond with intensified violence if they took up arms, even though the violent repression of peaceful protests should have indicated that; they did not know that Iran and Russia would support the regime, although the regime has always largely existed because of Iranian support, and Russia’s geopolitical interests should not have been that difficult to assess; and they didn’t know that jihadists from Iraq and elsewhere would enter the arena, although, again, this was not hard to predict; and they thought the international system would unite behind them to topple Bashar al-Assad to establish a state of either freedom, justice and democracy, or else an Islamic government, because the entire modern history of the suppression of Islamic and democratic movements in the Arab world did not indicate otherwise to them.
So, can we agree, finally, that the advocates of armed struggle generally have no idea what they are talking about? Can we agree, finally, that taking up arms should only happen after extensive study, planning, and organizing? Can we agree, finally, that those who promote the philosophy of “fire your weapon, make takbir, and everything will be ok” need to be shunned as dangerous lunatics? Can we agree, finally, that the Islamic movement needs to learn to be rational, objective, and realistic?
Allah help us, ya Rabb!