Syria: A sectarian war with sectarian infighting between rebel factions

Three down the road, the situation has only gotten messier.

It's now officially acknowledged that what's going on in Syria is a religious / sectarian war.  In fact, there is sectarianism within the Salafists themselves.  An example (quoting a report from a link in Tumblr), a radio exchange was caught at the ground recently, earlier this year, between two foreign fighters in Syria.  The first from Al-Qaeda's ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), and the second from the FSA (Free Syrian Army).

"You apostate infidels," says the first.  "We’ve declared you to be 'apostates,' you heretics. You don’t know Allah or His Prophet, you creature. What kind of Islam do you follow?"

To which the FSA fighter responds, "Why did you come here? Go fight Israel, brother."

Only to be told, "Fighting apostates like you people takes precedence over fighting the Jews and the Christians. All imams concur on that."

The religious propulsion of foreign fighters who have flooded into Syria in the last three years  — 400 or more from Britain alone — is beyond doubt. From the outset this has been a confrontation inflamed by religious sectarianism.

Quite obviously, sectarianism between Al-Qaeda and FSA is now being used as a force for providing an incentive to Al-Qaeda fighters by their leaders for occupying Syria and kicking out not just President Assad but also the SNC and its fighters.   

If President Assad was to step down or be toppled, one can only imagine the blood-drenched mob rule that would be unleashed.  The different groups of Syrian militants can hardly stand each other even while they have a common foe whom they are trying to defeat.  Yet, the ranting that has been going on from the opponents is that they will participate in "negotiations" if Assad steps down.  In that case,negotiate with whom?  Al-Qaeda knows that it has been sent to Syria with a one-way ticket by its financiers.  There is no going back.  Either they win, rule and wreck Syria, or they face defeat and death in Syria.  FSA, though more indigenous, is a much smaller force than Al-Qaeda and it knows that it  cannot win without Al-Qaeda.  Al-Qaeda and FSA are a very, very, very unwilling coalition.  Each party can barely bear the sight of the other even on the battleground, let alone negotiations for governing the country if Damascus falls. 

As long as President Assad survives, the U.S. and E.U. will ignore the wrangling between the militants and keep sending weapons to both groups. But if a time comes when Assad is no more, the West will have no choice but to take sides between the militants because of Syria's close proximity to Israel geographically.   The anarchy and bloodshed which will then ensue will make the current war seem like 'sweet memories.'