"It was a 'disastrous strategy' for the US & its Arab allies to purposefully facilitate an influx of foreign fighters, namely Salafi jihadists, into Syria"

"Jen Alic: Let’s just start out with the biggest question on everyone’s mind. Can the rebels defeat Assad?Michael Bagley: Certainly, they can, but to fully answer this question we have to look backwards and forwards. It was a grave mistake for the U.S. and its Arab allies to purposefully facilitate an influx of foreign fighters, namely Salafi jihadists, into Syria through the Turkish border to boost the ranks of the Syrian rebels. Now the rebels are in a tough position, and clearly everyone is having second thoughts about this disastrous strategy, not least the true rebels themselves. This temporary solution to the rebels’ inadequate manpower is now a not-so-temporary setback. (and yet, he believes that they can defeat Assad!!).."