NATO
Data: Assad Winning the War for Syrians’ Hearts and Minds
Special to World Tribune
June 04, 2013
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Clearing House -
LONDON — After two years of civil war, support for the regime of
Syrian President Bashar Assad was said to have sharply
increased.
NATO has been studying data that told of a sharp rise in support
for Assad. The data, compiled by Western-sponsored activists and
organizations, showed that a majority of Syrians were alarmed by
the Al Qaida takeover of the Sunni revolt and preferred to
return to Assad, Middle East Newsline reported.
“The people are sick of the war and hate the jihadists more than
Assad,” a Western source familiar with the data said. “Assad is
winning the war mostly because the people are cooperating with
him against the rebels.”
The data, relayed to NATO over the last month, asserted that 70
percent of Syrians support the Assad regime. Another 20 percent
were deemed neutral and the remaining 10 percent expressed
support for the rebels.
The sources said no formal polling was taken in Syria, racked by
two years of civil war in which 90,000 people were reported
killed. They saidthe data came from a range of activists and
independent organizations that were working in Syria,
particularly in relief efforts.
The data was relayed to NATO as the Western alliance has been
divided over whether to intervene in Syria. Britain and France
were said to have been preparing to send weapons to the rebels
while the United States was focusing on protecting Syria’s
southern neighbor Jordan.
A report to NATO said Syrians have undergone a change of heart
over the last six months. The change was seen most in the
majority Sunni community, which was long thought to have
supported the revolt.
“The Sunnis have no love for Assad, but the great majority of
the community is withdrawing from the revolt,” the source said.
“What is left is the foreign fighters who are sponsored by Qatar
and Saudi Arabia. They are seen by the Sunnis as far worse than
Assad.”
This
article was originally published at
World Tribune -
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