US Officials: 'Saudi 'alternative' to al Qaeda in Syria is, well, run by, ... al Qaeda'

 The Long War Journal

"... US officials point out, however, that al Qaeda's senior leadership was clever enough to place multiple bets within the Syrian insurgency.In late November, Ahrar al Sham was one of several groups that announced the formation of a new Islamic Front, which has been billed as an Islamist or jihadist alternative to al Qaeda. But al Qaeda's presence within Ahrar al Sham ensures that it maintains some degree of influence within the new coalition, the US officials point out.Ahrar al Sham holds some of the Islamic Front's key positions ..."