By AmmarJohmani
Colonel Riad al-Asaad, the founder of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said his initiative to manage the city of Idlib was in consultation with many local Syrian national bodies and even the Supreme Islamic Council, considering the charges directed at him of affiliation with al-Nusra Front as empty and useless.
Asaad in an interview with Ammar Johmani criticized the the Interim Government stand which rejected the initiative he proposed, saying that many factions no longer represent the Syrian people as much as these factions represent Pentagon and the CIA. To the Details:
J: What do you say to those who accuse you of dealing with the al-Nusra Front?
A: Today, anyone who tries to defend this revolution is accused of being affiliated with ISIS or al-Nusra Front. This is the logic of the regime that accused us at the beginning of the revolution of being extremists. A charge without evidence of belonging to ISIS or al-Nusra Front goes in the interest of the regime.
When many have welcomed ISIS and other extremists, I was the first to take up arms against them in 2012. Those who received ISIS and al- Qaeda later became leaders after the revolution became a handful of dollars for them. Finally, we are used to these accusations and they are no longer useful.
J: Some said you do not represent anyone inside Syria?
A: Those who say so represent the foreign intelligence agencies, the CIA and the Pentagon. The attack on Riad al-Asaad shows many of those also defend me. If I know that I have no acceptance, I will not show up in any place. These are abusers of the revolution and they are busy selling arms and drug trafficking, who do they represent? Many battalions have become with the regime. Al-Waer people were forcibly displaced in Homs and those battalions did not move so who do they represent?
J: There are charges that you are coordinating with al-Nusra Front in Idlib?
A: I have not coordinated with anyone. This is my project and I have been working on it for more than a year and I had proposed my initiative to the Supreme Islamic Council and to Ahrar al-Sham and several battilions regarding the administration of Idlib. Seven months ago I was in Syria and I spoke about this project and we have talked with many figures to implement this project. Do they want American and Russian intervention in Idlib? We want to prevent destruction and killing, but there are those who hate this city and want chaos.
J: But now according to some, you belong clearly to al-Nusra Front?
A: I do not belong to anyone, and when we founded FSA, it was a national army for all Syrians without sectarianism or racism, and some do not want to remember that. The initiative of Idlib administration was proposed in front of all factions and bodies including Interim Government, and launched the initiative Academics do not belong to anyone. Those who proposed the initiative are academics who do not belong to anyone but young people who are interested in preserving the city, and these accusations will not fool anyone and will not affect.
J: What was the position of the Interim Government from the Idleb city administration initiative?
A: When asked about the administration of the city of Idlib, the head of the Interim Government said that if the administration was not in agreement and under the government administration, it will declare that Idlib is a military zone. This attitude ignores the interests of the people of Idlib.
J: You were attacked by many parties, how did you look at them?
A: It was actually a fierce and painful campaign, showing the extent of hatred on the person of Riad al-Asaad. The strange thing is that it was an organized campaign, and I thank everyone who responded to these accusations, and there are those who carry the slogan "Riad al-Asaad represents us" and in front of these positions I am ready to pay my blood for them. I will continue my initiative about Idlib at any cost.
J: What is your assessment of the situation in Syria?
A: Syria is now under international agreements and regions began to be handed over under the pretext of reconciliation and agreement with the Russians, Russia is the first criminal in Syria.
The Shiite militias were not mentioned in any agreement and did not enter into any article. Even the detainees did not enter into any agreement. Unfortunately, everyone is trading with the Syrian people.
The situation is now very dangerous in Syria, and the Iranian militias are tearing the Syrian territories in front of the Syrian people, and they are managing to control Syria. The Syrian people must be aware of such schemes.
Today, those whoever rejects Assad remain in power become an affiliate with ISIS and al-Nusra Front. These canned accusations are intended to stop the revolution, but the revolution with my conviction continues and will not stop.
