Eastern Syrian town lives under al Qaeda rules

Reuters ^ | Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:20am EST | Name Withheld

[Pan_Yan]

(Reuters) - In a small town in Syria's east, Islamist militants have taken unclothed mannequins they see as sexually enticing out of the shops.

...

Of all the hundreds of rebel units, al-Nusra is considered the most effective. Its fighters, who seek out death in battle as a form of martyrdom, have achieved victories in attacks on several military bases across the country.

They still represent a small fraction of the armed anti-Assad groups fighting in Syria but are growing in size and influence.

...

Al-Nusra have been shrewd. They took control of the nearby al-Ward oil and gas field and also went straight for the grain silos. They control the resources, which gives them power.

In the streets of Mayadin, oil can be bought at marked up prices and al-Nusra will even trade with the enemy if it means extra cash.

...

"We lost our city and our children and now we will lose our future," said Fadia, a 22-year-old housewife. "There is nothing here. I hate all sides; the regime, the opposition, the Free Syrian Army and al-Nusra, because none of them care about civilians."

[Pan_Yan]

Long article but worth the read. As the Bolsheviks proved in Russia organization trumps numbers. For all their insanity the Islamists are organized whether you're talking about Libya, Egypt or Syria.

[Count of Monte Fisto]

These Alqaeda terror groups wouldn’t last a week against the Syrian Army if they were not financed and armed by the US/NATO and Saudis.

[Cronos]

correct

[Eleutheria5]

” In a small town in Syria’s east, Islamist militants have taken unclothed mannequins they see as sexually enticing out of the shops...”

and gang-raped them.