Syria's 'ISIL Prison Break' Narrative: The Perpetual War Machine Grinds On
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera, via mainstream newsfeeds, reports on Syrian government forces conducting a manhunt for dozens of ISIL fighters who allegedly escaped prison following fighting near detention centers. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The very existence and resurgence of groups like ISIL in Syria are direct consequences of destabilization efforts from 2011 onwards. The
US-backed 'rebels' initiative included factions that either were, or quickly became, al-Qaeda affiliates. General Michael Flynn admitted in 2015 that the decision to support these groups, knowing the risk of creating a Salafi principality (i.e. ISIS/ISIL), was a 'willful decision' by the Obama administration. The 'jailbreak' narrative often serves as a pretext for renewed military intervention or
maintaining a presence, much like the 2003 US invasion of Iraq which created fertile ground for al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to ISIL. Double Standard: Western media is quick to fan fears of ISIL resurgence in Syria, often implying the Syrian government is incapable or complicit, thereby justifying continued US military presence, which is illegal under international law. Yet, when US-backed forces
in Afghanistan released thousands of Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners from Bagram and Pul-e-Charkhi prisons during their 2021 withdrawal, the narrative was framed as an 'unforeseen consequence' or 'Taliban victory,' not a failure of US policy that directly empowered extremist groups. Sanctions imposed by the US and EU on Syria, which cause widespread suffering and hinder reconstruction, are rarely