Welcome back teachers and students!  Please note that the “Daily News Article” generally focuses on national news.  However, in an attempt to give you an overview of events in the Middle East, we are posting several articles this week on the ongoing crises in Egypt (see Monday and Thursday) and Syria (see Wednesday). (Also, check out “Background” and “Resources” below the questions each day.)

NOTE: Read "Background" and "Resources" below before answering the questions.

1. Who are the rebels in Syria? (Who make up the various opposition groups in Syria; i.e. those in opposition to President Assad)

Who is Mouaz Moustafa?  Should the U.S. government accept Mr. Moustafa representation of what is happening in Syria as accurate?  Explain your answer.

2. When did the moderate rebels first realize insurgents/extremists/Islamists/al-Qaeda had infiltrated their ranks?

3. How do the agendas of the moderates and the extremists in Syria differ?

4. Why are the Islamists such a strong group; why do Syrian villagers support Al-Qaeda?

5. Why aren't moderates able to compete against al-Qaeda for the "hearts and minds" of many villagers?

6. What does Mouaz Moustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force think the U.S. should do to help the "good guys"?

7. From para. 17-19: Mr. Moustafa says: "Empowering moderate rebels is in America's national security interests at a time when al Qaeda sees Syria as the front lines of an international terror campaign. It's still not too late." He likens the situation to the Sunni Awakening during the Iraq War in 2006, when moderate Sunnis began to reject al Qaeda extremists. Although supporting these councils is a part of the U.S. policy in Syria, intelligence officials are skeptical about an "awakening" of moderate rebels. Pentagon officials doubt that any rebel groups would promote U.S. interests, even if Washington backed them.
What do you think: is in in the best interests of the U.S. to attempt to support the moderates over the al-Qaeda and other extremists in their fight to oust Bashar Assad? Explain your answer.

NOTE:  “Answers” emails will resume September 3rd.  Sign-up now.