Does the Syrian government have ties to al-Qaeda?
No. The secular, Arab nationalist Syrian government is hostile to bin Laden’s Islamist network, which Syria views as a terrorist organization; Damascus differentiates between the Sunni Muslim fundamentalists of al-Qaeda and groups it sees as national liberation movements, such as Hezbollah and Palestinian groups. Also, experts say, Syria, which is ruled mostly by Alawites, an often marginalized Shiite sect, is more broadly concerned that Islamists could rally the country’s Sunni majority against the regime. So in the past, the dictatorial Baath Party has dealt harshly with domestic Islamists. If you’re thinking that the line between Al Qaida and Palestinian terror groups may have blurred in the last two years, good for you. Be sure to read this Time report (mentioned here in February) about the trouble Al Qaida has experienced as it tries to get cozy with Palestinian militants: Al-Qaeda has plainly sought access to the most ideologically compatible of the Palestinian groups, but has fo
