Vladimir von Wilgenburg
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Yeah. That gives us a pretty good summary of the situation, I think. So let's talk about HTS a bit, because I think you're going to see one of two things, right? When we talk about the SNA and HTS, a lot of outlets will just collapse them under the same descriptor. They will just say Syrian rebels. And I think people will think of the original largely secular uprising in Syria in 2011.
Yeah. That gives us a pretty good summary of the situation, I think. So let's talk about HTS a bit, because I think you're going to see one of two things, right? When we talk about the SNA and HTS, a lot of outlets will just collapse them under the same descriptor. They will just say Syrian rebels. And I think people will think of the original largely secular uprising in Syria in 2011.
And if they have not been paying attention, They'll realize that ISIS has been and gone, but they'll think, oh, these must be the same guys. These are not the same guys. Well, some of them may be the same guys who are originally part, like Jelani was originally sent there by Baghdadi way back to be part of ISIS. But these are not the secular rebels who originally rose up in Syria.
And if they have not been paying attention, They'll realize that ISIS has been and gone, but they'll think, oh, these must be the same guys. These are not the same guys. Well, some of them may be the same guys who are originally part, like Jelani was originally sent there by Baghdadi way back to be part of ISIS. But these are not the secular rebels who originally rose up in Syria.
And if they have not been paying attention, They'll realize that ISIS has been and gone, but they'll think, oh, these must be the same guys. These are not the same guys. Well, some of them may be the same guys who are originally part, like Jelani was originally sent there by Baghdadi way back to be part of ISIS. But these are not the secular rebels who originally rose up in Syria.
And so can you explain, like HTS has this very interesting kind of legitimacy project, right? Like it's trying to build a pseudo state and present like a kind of gentler jihadism. I don't know how to say it, but can you explain a little bit of this transformation of HDS and what you make of it?
And so can you explain, like HTS has this very interesting kind of legitimacy project, right? Like it's trying to build a pseudo state and present like a kind of gentler jihadism. I don't know how to say it, but can you explain a little bit of this transformation of HDS and what you make of it?
And so can you explain, like HTS has this very interesting kind of legitimacy project, right? Like it's trying to build a pseudo state and present like a kind of gentler jihadism. I don't know how to say it, but can you explain a little bit of this transformation of HDS and what you make of it?
Yeah, there's a $10 million bounty on Jilani still, right? They just never took it away from, yeah.
Yeah, there's a $10 million bounty on Jilani still, right? They just never took it away from, yeah.
Yeah, there's a $10 million bounty on Jilani still, right? They just never took it away from, yeah.
Yes, I think that's a good comparison.
Yes, I think that's a good comparison.
Yes, I think that's a good comparison.
Yeah, I think that's the crucial difference, right? At least for the US, like that makes them kind of more amenable than ISIS or even Al-Qaeda is that, yeah, they have this nationally contained jihadi vision.
Yeah, I think that's the crucial difference, right? At least for the US, like that makes them kind of more amenable than ISIS or even Al-Qaeda is that, yeah, they have this nationally contained jihadi vision.
Yeah, I think that's the crucial difference, right? At least for the US, like that makes them kind of more amenable than ISIS or even Al-Qaeda is that, yeah, they have this nationally contained jihadi vision.