A newly released opinion poll conducted by the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies offers insights into the way Arabs in twelve countries view Daesh and the role of Assad in radicalism in Syria. The polls focused on various issues that are of particular importance for people in this part of the world.
First and foremost, some 89 percent of the respondents state that they oppose Daesh. This huge percentage refutes the argument that there is a correlation between support for Daesh and religiosity. Those who identify themselves as religious are way higher than the seven percent who supports Daesh. Interestingly enough, only half of the seven percent who support Daesh said that they did so due to religiosity. The other half supports Daesh due to the prevalent political and economic conditions. Hence, support for such a radical organization is rooted in the political grievances rather than religious ideology.
The failure of leading countries engaged in military operations in both Syria and Iraq to appreciate this logic makes them focus on terrorism rather than radicalism. Of course, the two are different. Paradoxically, this lopsided approach in battling terrorism has led some western countries to come to terms with a notion that Assad can be a partner in defeating Daesh. Even some American officials are inclined to believe in the utility of Assad in fighting terrorism. Over the last two years, one cannot spot any firm American position with regard to Assad. Even after Assad crossed Obama’s redlines, the United States opted for inaction! This inaction sent a clear message to both Daesh and Assad that they could commit atrocities and get away with it.
Explicit in the poll is that laymen in the Arab street know well that the survival of Assad has been detrimental to the Syrian cause. In fact, the crisis has gotten worse and hopeless. There will be solution to the conflict — a majority of sixty-two percent states — as long as Assad is at the helm of politics in Syria. His removal is a must to achieve two objectives: De-escalation of the conflict and depriving Daesh — and like-minded radical organizations — of recruiting new fighters.
Obviously, the external support for Assad’s survival and the complicit position of the United States push many among the disgruntled Syrians to join radical organizations. If anything, the arguments that Assad is the magnet for foreign fighters to join Daesh could not be more relevant when one examines the figures included in the poll.
It is just about time when the leading western countries see reality as it is. There is an alternative to Assad. The opposition groups that met in Riyadh two weeks ago have presented a decent road map to get Syria out of the crisis while maintaining the integrity of the land. This can serve as a trigger for resolving the conflict once and for all. And yet, Russia has just killed Zahran Alloush — a prominent figure in the opposition groups that met in Riyadh. Alloush successfully fought tooth and nail to expel Daesh from some parts of Damascus. Unfortunately, the Russia’s move can only help the Assad regime and Daesh.
The findings of the poll reflect our common understanding of the harsh reality in the Middle East. And it begs the question as whether the western powers and Russia really take into account the sentiments of the beleaguered ordinary Arab men and women who suffer from the continuation of the vicious cycle of fighting terrorism. Sadly, the western powers are still obsessed with the military approach in battling Daesh and like-minded groups thus ignoring the conditions that foster radicalism.
