In recent days the world has been astounded by the incredible successes of the rebel forces storming through Syria and cutting the Russian-backed army of Bashar-al-Assad to pieces.
In fact, the rebels have been so successful that they have not only conquered several cities but are even threatening to rearrange one or two major memes:
In fact, the rebels have been so successful that they have not only conquered several cities but are even threatening to rearrange one or two major memes:
When a meme dies
So, who is the brilliant leader fucking up Russia's Middle Eastern policy and threatening to send another eye doctor back to London?
Meet Abu Mohammad al-Julani (أبو Ù…Øمد الجولاني), the nomme-de-guerre of Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a, born 1982 in Saudi Arabia. Al-Julani comes from a Sunni Arab family based in the area of the Golan Heights. In fact, his nomme-de-guerre is a reference to that fact, meaning "The Golani."
His name, therefore, is an implicit threat not only to the Assad -- as he has to go through Damascus to "return home" -- but also to Israel, which controversially still occupies the territory.
Of course, like any talented man of his generation from his part of the world who decided to "stand up" for his people, he is on lots of "terrorist" lists. But the career of the Golani shows that he has also pushed hard towards de-toxifying his cause. Indeed, it is this element of relative moderation that is one of the reasons for his present success.
In the past, he was associated with Al-Qaeda, and was active in Iraq, where the Americans imprisoned him for five years. Later, in 2013, the US government also put a $10 million bounty on his head. However, in 2016, the Golani cut his ties with Al-Qaeda, and later fought, successfully, against ISIL and Al-Qaeda, wiping them out in his part of Syria.
That US bounty is still probably in force, showing how stupid American foreign policy is, as the Golani is currently kicking one of America's real bad guys down a very long flight of stairs.
That US bounty is still probably in force, showing how stupid American foreign policy is, as the Golani is currently kicking one of America's real bad guys down a very long flight of stairs.
The Golani's break with Al-Qaeda was clearly done because he realised how toxic its brand was. This created unnecessary opposition from the West that weakened support from sympathetic Muslim countries, like Turkey and the Gulf States, and unwittingly supported Assad and the Russians.
Instead, he pushed towards creating a more broadly-based and more broadly acceptable anti-Assad movement by creating Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, known in the media as HTS. It translates as "Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant," which sounds warm and cosy.
While including dedicated Islamists, it also strives to tolerate and include other groups. This is not dissimilar to Hezbollah, the Shiite group that supports Assad and the Russians, and which also tries to be "inclusive" for PR and tactical reasons.
Instead, he pushed towards creating a more broadly-based and more broadly acceptable anti-Assad movement by creating Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, known in the media as HTS. It translates as "Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant," which sounds warm and cosy.
While including dedicated Islamists, it also strives to tolerate and include other groups. This is not dissimilar to Hezbollah, the Shiite group that supports Assad and the Russians, and which also tries to be "inclusive" for PR and tactical reasons.
But it seems that where HTS differ from Hezbollah and Assad's pseudo-Baathist Syrian Army is in its training, organisation, and meritocracy, all of which appear to have been prioritised in the formerly small corner of Syria controlled by HTS for the last few years.
Here, under the protection of Turkey and with growing support from Arab nations, the Golani has successfully been building up the forces and diplomatic network that could take on Assad's regime.
Although incomplete, this career trajectory suggests that the Golani is a leader of high intelligence and iron will and is well worth keeping an eye on. The Russians certainly agree and have been making desperate efforts to kill him in recent days.
Although incomplete, this career trajectory suggests that the Golani is a leader of high intelligence and iron will and is well worth keeping an eye on. The Russians certainly agree and have been making desperate efforts to kill him in recent days.
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Colin Liddell is the Chief Editor of Neokrat and the author of Interviews & Obituaries, a collection of encounters with the dead and the famous. As there is absolutely zero reward for honest content like this, support his work by buying his book here (USA), here (UK), and here (Australia). or by taking out a paid subscription on his Substack.
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