The Geneva conference on Syria produced little of substance. This was expected; few harbored any illusions that it would produce any breakthroughs or result in ending the suffering of the Syrian people. The reason is simple: not only are the two sides very far apart, but the so-called Syrian opposition is made up of an odd assortment of opportunists that have no support inside Syria. Their foreign sponsors, however, have other plans. Geneva was a sideshow.

The real struggle is going on inside Syria and now increasingly in Iraq as well. A quick glance at the map would show that the foreign, primarily Saudi-backed mercenaries in Syria and Iraq occupy crucial space in both countries that could form the borders of a future takfiri state. In Iraq, the takfiris occupy the Anbar province stretching from northwest of Baghdad all the way to the Syrian border. In Syria, too, they occupy the adjoining border region and the takfiris are on a roll against other rebel groups as well. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has been virtually decimated and their areas occupied by takfiris.

This has made life easier for Syrian government forces. Many members of the FSA have streamed back to the government side. Most Syrians now realize that the takfiri mercenaries pose a far greater threat to their existence than the Syrian regime ever did. In fact, even the BBC was forced to admit on January 21 that a survey among Syrian refugees found 87% opposed the takfiris in their country and would like to have the crisis resolved through dialogue.

This is not something the takfiris and their foreign sponsors, especially Saudi Arabia want. The Saudis know only one game: dividing Muslims by spreading hatred against groups/people they dislike. The Saudi regime has allocated $6 billion to finance the takfiris to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Asad. Compare this to the meager $120 million donated by Saudi Arabia and Qatar combined to look after more than two million Syrian refugees languishing in terrible conditions in camps in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. For the Saudis, killing people, especially those they do not like is far more important than saving innocent human lives.

The Saudi-backed military policy, however, is not getting very far but their campaign of spreading hatred is more effective. People’s emotions can be easily aroused by planting doubts in their minds. This is what the Saudis know and do best. They have spread their poisonous ideology far and wide. Pakistan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Somalia are in their grip where takfiri demagogues are running amok. Suicide and car bombings are their signature mark. Innocent people are routinely targeted and killed. How can the Saudis claim to be following the Qur’an and Sunnah when they promote and finance such demonic notions? The reality is that they are only concerned about saving their own illegitimate hold on power in the Arabian Peninsula where stirrings of revolt are getting stronger.

The takfiri poison is bound to infect Saudi society as well just as a decade ago, the eruption of al-Qaeda took the Saudis also in its sweep. The takfiris have no loyalty to anyone or anything; their ideology of hate and killings will ultimately turn on their sponsors. That explains why the Saudis are so anxious to create a state of Takfiristan in parts of Iraq and Syria so that these monsters can be contained therein and unleashed only when needed against the next “enemy.” Like the Saudis’ military policy, the Takfiristan project is also bound to fail. Perhaps, this failure will hasten the demise of one of the most hated ruling dynasties in the world.

By Zafar Bangash

Source: Crescent International