US Welcomes 'Ex-Jihadist' Leader They Formerly Bombed
Al-Monitor announces President Ahmed al-Sharaa's upcoming White House visit, painting it as a triumphant end to Syria's isolation. This same individual, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was until recently considered a terrorist. The US, which once targeted groups allied with HTS, now plans for Sharaa to 'hopefully' sign an agreement to join the US-led anti-ISIS coalition – a coalition that,
one might recall, indirectly benefited from the destabilization caused by groups like his. It appears yesterday's 'radical' is today's 'strategic partner,' so long as he's willing to serve US interests. The policy isn't about promoting democracy or fighting 'terrorism,' but about managing proxies and maintaining influence. Just as the US once armed supposed 'freedom fighters' who metastasized into
al-Qaeda, now they rehabilitate a former al-Qaeda affiliate. The consistent thread? US strategic objectives, regardless of the body count or the flip-flopping justifications. How many 'former' terrorists become 'important allies' before we admit the 'war on terror' was always just a rebranding exercise?