Syrian Government Reclaims Raqqa Prison: Media Forgets Who Created the Mess
📰 THE STORY: Al-Monitor, via Reuters, reports that Syria's Interior Ministry announced control over al-Aktan prison in Raqqa, formerly held by Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), where Islamic State-linked detainees are held, following clashes. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: They skip over the fact that the US-backed 'rebel' groups in Syria, which included and often
blurred lines with al-Qaeda affiliates like Jabhat al-Nusra, were instrumental in destabilizing the Syrian state from 2011 onwards, creating the power vacuum that allowed ISIS (Islamic State) to emerge and flourish, making Raqqa its de facto capital. As recently as 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admitted that 'al-Qaeda ... has moved into Syria.' The media's portrayal of this as a
simple 'Syrian government' vs. 'Islamic State' issue ignores this foundational history. Double Standard: When Western-backed forces 'fight terrorism,' it's framed as a noble, necessary intervention. When the Syrian government fights the very terrorist groups that proliferated due to foreign intervention, it's often framed with suspicion, implying potential human rights abuses or simply as a power
grab. The inherent hypocrisy is that the US intervened in Syria under the guise of fighting ISIS, yet simultaneously funded groups that either fought alongside or enabled ISIS's growth, while the legitimate Syrian government's efforts are downplayed or vilified. Follow the Money: The prolonged conflict in Syria, catalyzed by foreign backing for various 'rebel' factions, has generated immense