December 04, 2013 12:15 AM
By David Ignatius
The Daily Star

Story Summary

As Al-Qaeda grows more powerful in Syria – seeking “complete control over the liberated areas,” according to a new Syrian rebel intelligence report – moderate opposition leaders are voicing new interest in a political settlement of the grinding civil war.

Negotiations have focused on providing supplies to civilians trapped in three areas: the old city of Homs, in central Syria; the town of Daraya, about six miles southwest of Damascus; and the town of Moadamieh, about eight miles southwest of the capital.

The group’s prisons hold more than 35 foreign journalists, 60 Syrian political activists and more than 100 Free Syrian Army fighters.

Idriss said the Free Syrian Army was trying to fight a two-front war, battling Al-Qaeda fighters at 24 locations over the past six months, even as it tried to keep fighting Assad’s army. The CIA is said to be training about 200 fighters for Idriss each month, though the commander wouldn’t acknowledge this support.

There’s more support now for a political settlement at Geneva II, but it’s clear that even if Assad leaves, a second Syrian war against Al-Qaeda is ahead.

Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2013/Dec-04/239788-a-second-syrian-war-against-al-qaeda-lies-ahead.ashx#ixzz2maC2WLyr
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)