Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Trump Administration All In, Alas, with Ahmed al-Sharaa

By

Donald Trump is apparently taken with Ahmed al-Sharaa, a man whom he admires as a “strong leader,” and who, he devoutly believes, is a “moderate,” someone who has cut all ties with his past as a member of al-Qaeda with a $10-million-dollar bounty on his head, a bounty that the United States offered. Just now, the Israelis asked Trump not to remove all sanctions from Syria, so that those that remained could be used as leverage in future negotiations with al-Sharaa. Trump refused; and all the American sanctions on Syria have now been removed. The Syrians, as a consequence, now have less to worry about American reactions to Damascus’ behavior, including attacks on the many minorities — Alawites, Druze, Christians, and Kurds — that have been enduring various levels of assault from both elements of the Syrian army, and from Sunni Arab civilians.

More on Washington’s legitimizing Syria’s jihadists can be found here: “Legitimizing Syria’s jihadists threatens Israel and the West – opinion,” by Veysi Dag, Jerusalem Post, December 

The December 13, 2025, terrorist attack on the US delegation in Syria’s Palmyra region, which resulted in the deaths of two American service members and a civilian interpreter, underscores an imminent risk and a more troubling reality that Washington continues to overlook.

While US officials attributed the attack to ISIS, images of the assailant circulating on social media indicate a direct connection to Syria’s newly established security apparatus. Ultimately, it is largely irrelevant whether the assailant acted explicitly under the ISIS banner or as part of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led Syrian government.

It appears that the assailant was wearing not an all-black ISIS uniform and a headband with ISIS writing, but a uniform that belongs to members of the Syrian security services. This has not been reported anywhere in the American press. Washington immediately concluded that this was an ISIS operation, because if the person who killed two American soldiers and an interpreter in Palmyra were found to be one of al-Sharaa’s operatives, Trump — who keeps praising al-Sharaa — would have been deeply embarrassed. Better to blame ISIS, which in any case deserves to be hit with American bombs, if not for this attack, then for many others past, passing, and to come.

Syria’s jihadist groups are all part of the same ecosystem, despite their different rhetoric and methods of violence. They share a common ideological foundation rooted in radical Islamism, rejection of ethnic and religious pluralism, profound hostility toward gender equality, and deep anti-Western sentiments.

Al-Sharaa has taken Trump in, having exchanged his camouflage uniform for a suit and tie, and is very smooth in presenting himself as having jettisoned his former Islamist views, but the way he allowed his troops, both in the army and in other parts of the Syrian security apparatus, to murder Alawites and Druze, undercuts his charade. The Israelis, who know much more than Trump about how to distinguish Islamists from “moderate Muslims,” do not trust al-Sharaa. Shouldn’t Washington listen to the warnings of its Israeli ally?

Ignoring this fact by tacitly legitimizing jihadist power in Damascus threatens stability in Syria and entrenches extremism and risks renewed cycles of violence. This risk is already evidenced in attacks perpetrated this year by government-affiliated forces against ethnic and religious minorities, particularly the Alawite and Druze communities. These threats to peaceful coexistence also jeopardize Israel’s security and wider Western interests in the region.

Trump needs to be disabused — if such is even possible with such a strange, mercurial, often thoughtless individual — of his trust in al-Sharaa. It was al-Sharaa’s men who attacked the Alawites in Latakia, killing more than 1,400 civilians in March. It was al-Sharaa’s soldiers and affiliated Sunni militias who entered the Druze heartland of the Sweida governorate, ostensibly to stop the fighting between Druze and Bedouin, but in fact, they soon turned to murdering Druze, who, one should remember, are not Muslims, and thus are permanent objects of contempt and hatred from Sunni Muslims.

“Rebranding jihadists in Syria as “integrated,” “moderate,” or “transformed” does not change their fundamental worldview. Even if factions that Ahmed al-Sharaa leads have undergone partial transformation, credible reports suggest that ISIS members have infiltrated government-affiliated forces and that ISIS symbols, narratives, and ideological commitments persist.

Comments

  1. All in..with that Al Sharaa? I will do my own research.. Trump is nobody’s fool.. just because he is shaking hands w/ him.. means nothing. I am sure he had his “jacket” looked up by the CIA is very aware of his “extremely dangerous and checkered” past.
    Given that Israel is getting ready to unleash on the HAMAS.. any day now.. we don’t know what is going on there.. unless you somehow got the morning briefing in the skiff

  2. Doesn’t Anyone in Trumps’ administration know the facts/truth on this individual(al-Sharaa) and all he(they) believe in? Will not Anyone open Trumps’ ‘eyes’?

    • The Trump Admin does not understand or know Islam. There needs to be am immediate hire of someone who does and such an individual can be found easily. I cannot understand that living in these dangerous times that this has not yet been done. For God’s sake and the US sake and the sake of Western civilization, it better be done fast!!

  3. The Prophet Daniel, living under an oppressive and evil regime, wrote down some things which apply to these times. King of the North vs King of the South and what happens to each. The giant statue in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, with “feet of iron mixed with clay” which statue pictures the main political powers down to today….and what happens to the “feet.”

    And Ezekiel writing down the final battle Israel must have with the ‘hordes out of the North,” while the tiny nation is “without a wall.”

    We may not like seeing the things happening today….certainly not the increase and the advancement of evil. But these things have been foretold and they will come True.

    And humans make choices and some of those people’s choices, affect millions of other people. Some good things and some not nearly so good; and some, very evil.
    And the prophecies are being fulfilled.

    • I believe President Trump is compromised by al Sharaa, a lying, Islamic terrorist, who champions taqiyya. Therefore, I think America is compromised, to the extent, an attack on America is imminent. Trump is a fool’s fool, understands squat about Islam and its dangers. I also think, this emboldens Muslims worldwide, the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR must feel they have America in the palms of their hands.

      • I would also say, “I’m fearful for America, because of Trump and his pseudo relationship with Muslim terrorists.”

      • I think that many Americans knew that Assad was a brutal dictator, so they assume that anyone who opposed him must ergo be a freedom fighter. But this is just childish.

        • Also, what they “know” about Bashar was true about his dad, Hafez. Bashar was not the political type: he was recalled from his London ophthalmology practice to fill in after his brother died in a car crash. Any casual observation of Syria will tell the story. Under Hafez, Syria was a regional power, occupying Lebanon, threatening Iraq and being a genuine threat to both Israel as well as sunni Arab powers in the region. Under Bashar, Syria became a playground of the Russians, Iranians and Hizbullah

  4. Please, please, if anyone knows Donald Trumps email address, send this link to him.
    What Does Islam Teach About…

    Deception, Lying
    and Taqiyya
    Does Islam permit Muslims to lie?

    Muslim scholars teach that Muslims should generally be truthful to each other… unless the purpose of lying is to “smooth over differences” or “gain the upper-hand over an enemy.”
    There are several forms of lying to non-believers that are permitted under certain circumstances, the best known being taqiyya (the Shia name). These circumstances are typically those that advance the cause of Islam – in some cases by gaining the trust of non-believers in order to draw out their vulnerability and defeat them.
    The Hadith makes it clear that Muslims are allowed to lie to unbelievers in order to defeat them or protect themselves. There are several forms:

    Taqiyya – Saying something that isn’t true as it relates to Muslim identity (i.e whether one is a Muslim or what that means). This is a Shiite term: the Sunni counterpart is Muda’rat.

    Kitman – Lying by omission. An example would be when Muslim apologists quote only a fragment of verse 5:32 (that if anyone kills “it shall be as if he had killed all mankind”) while neglecting to mention that the rest of the verse (and the next) mandate murder in undefined cases of “corruption” and “mischief.”

    Tawriya – Intentionally creating a false impression by saying something that is technically true, when knowing that the listener will interpret it in a different way. This practice has a broader application than taqiyya.

    Muruna – ‘Blending in’ by setting aside some practices of Islam or Sharia in order to advance others.

    Read the whole article. https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/taqiyya.aspx

  5. No apologies for trump. He is well aware of what he is doing. His sheep clothing is being removed piece by piece beginning to show a different animal. He changes more and more as each sheep garment removed.
    He will not be woken up as he is not asleep. We are late in the end times scenario. Yes, God is letting trump set up final prophetic events Trump wants his Abraham accords no matter the harm to get there. A free Iran would be a good game changer but trump does not want Iran free unless mostly destroyed first. Khomeni is needed by trump to mold his accords. My heart wishes God to remove trump speedily but I can’t pray that as then comes Vance or a democrat.
    My solace is Jesus is returning and things must happen and us Godly folk must stay good and unite with and help others likewise..

    • You don’t know what you’re talking about. Trump knows who the good ones and bad ones are.

      No terrorist would be allowed here if it were true. This is crazy bro.

      • No, his befriending the al Thanis of Qatar and Erdogan in Turkey, as well as preventing Israel from accelerating the collapse of the islamic regime in Teheran, shows that he is pretty clueless. Stive is pretty much right

    • Wellington and GE
      I’ve also been concerned about Trump, but I’ve come to the conclusion that he knows exactly what he’s doing. He knows how dangerous Erdogan and Al-Sharaa really are, but he’s playing them at their own game. You don’t become as successful as him by being a fool, he knows alright.

      • Hope you’re right, John Smith. I have had to take into account the distinct possibility that Trump knows exactly what he is doing and as you mentioned. Right now I’d put it at 60%-40% against Trump in this regard. But then a 40% chance of being right is still a damn good chance. If one had a 40% chance of winning some lottery for millions, as opposed to an extremely tiny fraction of a 1% chance, that person would be a fool not to buy a lot of those lottery tickets.

        • Wellington as you are probably well aware I didn’t go to university or had some kind of higher education I just didn’t have it, but I know I’m far more intelligent than the likes of Kier Starmer. Trump is playing them like a fiddle. He knows damn well that Erdogan and Al-Sharaa are his enemies, and they are trying to pretend they are his friends. So in return Trump is also pretending to be their friends.Trump knows exactly what they are up to, just take it from me.

      • I strongly hope your right. Trumps team must no the score and has a good play book if needed.

  7. It is true that rich people are more difficult to enter paradise than a camel to enter the hole of a needle.

    • Not to be difficult but that line from the Bible has long struck me as smacking of a pro-socialism, anti-capitalism sentiment.

      • Wellington, if one reads the entire chapter, it’s easier to understand why Jesus said this. A rich young man asked what he needed to do to “enter the Kingdom.’ Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The man asked, “which ones?’ Jesus told him; and the young man said he had done that. He wanted to know what else he could do. Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, sell your belongings, give to the poor and **come follow me.**”

        He couldn’t very well carry all of his “belongings” around with him following Jesus.

        This saddened the young man because he had so very much material wealth.
        Obviously, he cared more for those things which made him wealthy than he did to “be perfect.”

        Jesus did not say that a rich man could not enter God’s Kingdom, but it would be more difficult if they have so much, they don’t feel that they need anything else to be happy…or “perfect.”

        In the Land of Israel from ancient times, the Jews had more of a capitalist society than a socialist society, because even the poor had to work for what they had. The Book of Ruth makes that clear.

        Isaiah 65 a portion
        “They will build houses and dwell in them;
        they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
        22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
        or plant and others eat.
        For as the days of a tree,
        so will be the days of my people;
        my chosen ones will long enjoy
        the work of their hands.
        23 They will not labor in vain,
        nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
        for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
        they and their descendants with them.”

        • With great respect to you, somehistory, i remain in disagreement with you on this matter. Why, I would ask, should perfection be linked with giving up all material goods? Yes, why? Thus, I stand by my initial comment because Jesus’ comment basks in a kind of all private property being wrong element. And this too I would note and that is what Thomas Jefferson (who, btw, did not think Jesus divine or that he performed any miracles and why he composed the Jefferson Bible) stated, to wit, where there is no private property, there is no liberty. Thus again, giving up all wealth in the pursuit of perfection I have maintained for a very long time now is a very bad idea.

          Though an agnostic, I overwhelmingly support Christianity as you already know but I have reservations about Christianity, including its arguably too pacifist approach, and why many Christian philosophers have had to engage in extended arguments to justify war of any kind, thus demonstrating by these very arguments that Christianity has inherent in it in theory the antithesis of Islam’s martial intentions—and as the rise of so many Christian pacifist sects also demonstrate, for instance the Quakers.

          Also, I never want to be threatened for not accepting something that my reason may put me in doubt of but this can be found in the New Testament again and again. As one example, Jesus himself says in Mark 16:16 that if one is not baptized and believes they are condemned (and even clarification here by Jesus is absent—-how can people who lived before Jesus possibly have believed and been baptized?). Another example is John 3:18 where it states that those who don’t believe are already judged. Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza, David Hume and so many other philosophers never operated this way but religion does regularly. This is partly why I have taken a philosophical approach to understanding the universe and existence rather than a religious one. I don’t like threats—even by Jesus, who indeed I have no doubt must have been remarkable.

        • Wellington,
          you have every right to disagree. Jesus didn’t run after the young man, and I don’t run after those who see things differently than I.

          I honestly think that we cannot completely understand the Son of God. If we *believe* what the Bible says about Him, then we must also believe that someday, what we don’t fully understand today, we will in that someday.

          When it comes to the rich, I remember the rich man named Joseph who gave over his burial tomb for Jesus’ body. If he had not been rich, he could not have made that contribution; but he also had great faith.
          And the perfumed oil poured on Jesus’ feet….if not for someone’s wealth, that could not have happened.

          I know that someday, so many things will be crystal clear to those who want to know. I look forward to that day and pray for it to be soon.

        • As always, somehistory, I remain overwhelmingly on your side even though we may have some disagreements. And here is something I am certain we would have no disagreement about, to wit, that mankind would be infinitely better off if all Muslims woke up tomorrow devout Christians.

          A Merry Christmas to you and family, somehistory. There are few if any I respect who comment here at JW more than I do you.

        • Thank ever so much, Wellington. Could I look in your eyes, I’m sure I would see a good heart.
          I hope that you and your family, have a Merry Christmas.

        • somehistory,

          I actually know Wellington who I regard as a personal friend, meeting up with him in person about five years ago. We now see each other on a regular basis.

          He is one of the most intelligent and compassionate individuals that I have ever known.

          And he also has a lovely, highly intelligent, and talented wife.

        • Thank you, James, for your response. He has mentioned his wife a few times in comments.
          As a writer, I have a vivid imagination and I have pictures in my mind, based on comments, of most of the regular commenters. I may be all wrong, but who can know?
          thanks again.

        • And the “eye of the needle” was a smaller city gate within the gate–camels often had to be unloaded to go through this smaller gate. So the reference to the “eye of the needle” may have may have meant that it is more difficult to enter the Kingdom of Heaven if too attached to material goods, not impossible as this verse is often interpreted.

        • Thanks for that information James. It’s nice to hear that you and Wellington have actually met up. I’ve no doubt that you’d get on well as you have a lot in common and you both come across as nice people.

        • Thanks to somehistory, John Smith, gravenimage and James Lincoln for their comments on this thread. I would add here respecting James that it has been a privilege and honor getting to know him. He is possessed of a keen intelligence and is a highly decent man. He also has been blessed in another regard and that is, like me, he has a “better half” for a spouse; his wife is lovely and good friends with my wife which pleases me and I’m sure pleases James.

  8. Trump Administration All In, Alas, with Ahmed al-Sharaa
    …………………………………………….

    *So* depressing, Actually, this Jihad terrorist, installed by Turkey and now massacring Christians, Alawites, and Druze, is many times worse than former dictator Assad–no mean feat.

  10. The scriptures say in 1 Corinthians 2 “ not many rich” Not”any”. In Timothy it says, let those that are rich be be also rich in good works. Being rich is not wrong but the self- sufficiency it can breed can be a hindrance to trusting God.

    “ how can people who lived before Jesus possibly have believed and been baptized?”

    I wonder myself about those good people who character I can not touch as a believer. The many who died in Holocaust, Golda Meir,countless “good” people who did not confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.
    I know that all mankind is tainted with sin passed down to them from Adam’s fall. And the costly blood the Lord Jesus poured out with His life is the only provision God has declared to forgive sin. The result of such sacrifice is God’s imparted righteousness and eternal life. Whose life we spend a lifetime learning to live by.
    We Christians are a poor testimony to the life of the living God. But we are are the main target of the evil one apart from the Jews whom God is not finished with.
    I just hope. I repeat. I just hope there is a provision, far above my capabilities to apprehend, for the many who hated evil but loved good. Sort of like Israel honored the “ righteous gentiles” who aided Jews during Holocaust.

    • AB,
      Jesus Himself said, There will be a resurrection of the Righteous and the un-righteous.” The unrighteous would include people who never heard of Jesus, but were good people.

      People who lived before Jesus left heaven and came to earth, could have shown good hearts. And Abel showed faith, as did Noah, his sons, Abraham, and so many others. There were countless ones unnamed of which we have no idea.

      the righteous man, Job, was not part of the nation of Israel.

      The cousin of Jesus, John, the “so-called Baptist,” was baptizing Jews before Jesus began His ministry.
      And Jesus also promised that those who “do good to the least of these my brothers, do it to me.”
      Those ones will get life for having ‘done good to Christ’s brothers.’

      I watched a movie where a little girl heard that Scripture read and then asked her mom if she could say a prayer. In the prayer, the little girl asked to be shown who “the least of these” was so she could “do good to Christ.”

      The Bible promises that God has prepared so many good things which people cannot even imagine.

  11. I have no problem believing Trump could be playing al-Sharaa, Erdogan and M bin Salman, along.
    Or he could be a flawed man, who is too interested in his own glory, and is being taken in.
    Or some of both.
    I believe Trump is sincere, but that doesn’t protect us. Sincere people make terrible blunders.
    That’s the problem with having to wait and see what he does as the situations develop.

    But now 2 Americans are dead – for what?

    In many other arenas Trump has acted decisively and effectively, e g, the U.S. Southern Border.
    Getting mediocre male “athletes” out of female athletics, getting ICE in shape to be effective, taking on rogue District Court Judges both personally and as head of the Executive Branch, getting winged in the ear and pushing past his DEI hired, female protectors, to stand up an declare, Fight!, fight, fight!
    And having a great sense of humor.

    Foreign Policy and War are much more complicated. The logic of war is to not do what is straight forward.
    You don’t take the shortest, most efficient path you would take when things are safe. The path you take when things are dangerous looks very different. Full of stops, and cover halts. Sometimes you even double back.

    I wish I knew what the U.S Strategy was in the Middle East. Is there a Strategy? A goal? What is U.S. involvement trying to achieve there? I love cheering on our military tactics. Iran was such a joy. Executed flawlessly.

    But what is the Goal, the Strategy of our military tactics?

    I know what Islam’s Strategy is. We’ve all know that for 1400 years. It’s never changed and never will:
    A World Wide Caliphate, so all is for Allah! By any tactics necessary.
    Whether accomplished by Islamic Nation States or Rogue Jihadi Groups the Strategy was laid down by
    Mohammed and it’s still the Strategy today.

    Can anyone direct me to a site that has that has any info on U.S. Strategy in the Middle East?

    Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah everyone!

    All I want for for Christmas is an “Edit Button” from Jihad Watch! 🤣🤣🤣

      • somehistory,

        Thank you, I’ll check it out.
        I can tell by posts here on JW that many of you have been looking into geopolitics for a while. U.S Middle East Strategy is a big subject and it’s a lot to sift through so your giving me a place to start is much appreciated.

Discover more from

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Skip to content