Al-Monitor Discovers 'New Islamist Government' in Syria
Al-Monitor breathlessly reports nine dead in Aleppo clashes, pinning the blame on a stalled 'March deal to merge the Kurds' semi-autonomous administration and military into Syria's new Islamist government.' The term 'new Islamist government' (which government, exactly?) provides a perfectly opaque scapegoat. This magical 'new Islamist government' appears to have materialized out of thin air,
sparing Al-Monitor from mentioning the Assad regime that has ruled Syria for decades, or the Turkish-backed factions (often Islamist, yes) that have actively fought Kurdish forces with US indifference. Using vague terms like 'new Islamist government' allows outlets like Al-Monitor to obscure the complex, often contradictory, roles of regional powers and avoid questioning US policy. One might
wonder if 'new Islamist government' is the new 'moderate rebels' — an umbrella term to simplify a brutal, multi-sided conflict and justify continued intervention, or withdrawal, as suits the narrative. Perhaps 'new Islamist' is just what we're calling whatever helps maintain the chaos without ever mentioning actual, verifiable actors or their long-standing agendas. It certainly saves them from
having to explain the ongoing geopolitical chess match involving Turkey, the Assad regime, and various proxy groups, all while painting Kurdish forces, once Western allies, into yet another corner.