The Free Syrian Army fired Gen. Idriss over battleground failings

The Free Syrian Army has sacked its military chief after the Western-backed rebels suffered battlefield setbacks, amid signs the warring parties are escalating the fighting that has already killed more than 140,000 people.

Activists warned Monday that regime troops are preparing a ground offensive against the town of Yabrud, the last rebel stronghold in the strategic Qalamoun region near Lebanon‘s border, after days of aerial bombardments.

On the diplomatic front, US Secretary of State John Kerry slammed Russia on Monday for “enabling” Syria‘s President Bashar al-Assad to stay in power, after Geneva peace talks broke off without result over the weekend.

Moscow quickly dismissed the allegation and launched its own broadside, accusing the US of failing to ensure a “truly representative opposition delegation” attended the talks.

More from GlobalPost: Kerry blames Assad government of stonewalling latest Syria peace talks

The sacking of rebel military commander Selim Idriss was announced Sunday by the FSA, which said he was being replaced by Brigadier General Abdelilah al-Bashir, an army deserter.

Colonel Qassem Saadeddine of the rebel coalition said the decision was taken due to “the paralysis within the military command these past months” and the need to “restructure.”

A source inside the Syrian opposition told AFP that Idriss — who was appointed to the role in December 2012 — had faced criticism for failings on the battlefield.

These included “errors and carelessness in combat” and “poor distribution of weapons” among the rebels on the ground, the source said.

The FSA has taken a beating on the battlefield in recent months not only by regime troops but also by Islamist fighters who have joined the battle to unseat Assad.

Considered the “moderate” rebel group, the FSA was once the country’s strongest armed opposition force but is now increasingly marginalized by Islamists, including Al Qaeda-linked groups.

Analysts said that with the failure of the latest round of peace talks, Syria’s regime and rebels are likely to ratchet up military pressure on the ground.

“I fear that the failure of the Geneva talks will lead to military escalation — it will probably get worse before it gets better,” said Volker Perthes, director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

“Both sides will try to show that they can change the balance on the ground in their favor, and that they aren’t forced to negotiate out of weakness.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported a surge of fighting Monday around Yabrud, which lies on a strategic highway linking Damascus and the central city of Homs.

The head of the Britain-based Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP that the Syrian air force dropped explosive-packed barrels on the outskirts of Yabrud, and that fighting had erupted in the nearby rebel-held towns of Ras al-Maara and Al-Sahel.

Pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan reported that the troops were battling jihadists around Yabrud, including fighters from Al-Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/140217/the-free-syrian-army-fired-gen-idriss-battleground-fa

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The Free Syrian Army fired Gen. Idriss over battleground failings

Battleground Texas surpasses $1M

Battleground Texas officials have suggested they aim to make Texas a swing state in 2020. | Reuters

The Democratic group Battleground Texas has raised over a million dollars since its creation earlier this year, officials with the organization said.

The group, formed with the explicit goal of helping Democrats compete in the demographically changing Lone Star State, said it has taken in about $ 1.1 million since the end of February.

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That haul may allay some doubts about the viability of Battleground Texas, which has announced plans to organize Democratic-leaning constituencies – including Latinos and African Americans – over multiple election cycles to increase their influence in statewide elections.

(PHOTOS: Scenes from Texas abortion rights protest)

POLITICO reported in January that several former Obama campaign officials had mapped out plans for the Texas effort, including a multimillion-dollar budget over several years.

More recently, Battleground Texas officials have suggested they aim to make Texas a swing state in the 2020 presidential race. The group had its first major fundraiser in Austin this spring and held an event in D.C. last week.

In a statement, executive director Jenn Brown said Battleground Texas was off to a swift start.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in just a few short months, but we know there is much more work to be done. Moving forward, Battleground Texas will continue to grow this grassroots movement and engage Texans – on the phones, and the doors and in their neighborhoods, she said.

(QUIZ: Do you know Wendy Davis?)

The details of the group’s fundraising report may be revealing: officials said that nearly 80 percent of contributions came from within Texas and the median contribution was $ 25. But Texas allows unlimited donations to state political groups, meaning that a small number of ultra-rich donors can foot most of the bill for any advocacy or organizing group.

The fundraising news comes a day after the 2014 gubernatorial campaign kicked off in earnest, as Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced he would seek his party’s nomination to succeed 13-year incumbent Rick Perry, who will not seek reelection. Abbott has $ 23 million in the bank, and the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling found he would start out well ahead of any likely Democratic candidate.

On the Democratic side, gubernatorial speculation has focused on state Sen. Wendy Davis, who seized national attention last month with a filibuster against a GOP-backed bill tightening regulation of abortion clinics. The bill ultimately passed in a special session of the legislature in July.

POLITICO – Congress

Battleground Texas surpasses $1M

Battleground Texas surpasses $1M

Battleground Texas officials have suggested they aim to make Texas a swing state in 2020. | Reuters

The Democratic group Battleground Texas has raised over a million dollars since its creation earlier this year, officials with the organization said.

The group, formed with the explicit goal of helping Democrats compete in the demographically changing Lone Star State, said it has taken in about $ 1.1 million since the end of February.

Continue Reading

That haul may allay some doubts about the viability of Battleground Texas, which has announced plans to organize Democratic-leaning constituencies – including Latinos and African Americans – over multiple election cycles to increase their influence in statewide elections.

(PHOTOS: Scenes from Texas abortion rights protest)

POLITICO reported in January that several former Obama campaign officials had mapped out plans for the Texas effort, including a multimillion-dollar budget over several years.

More recently, Battleground Texas officials have suggested they aim to make Texas a swing state in the 2020 presidential race. The group had its first major fundraiser in Austin this spring and held an event in D.C. last week.

In a statement, executive director Jenn Brown said Battleground Texas was off to a swift start.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in just a few short months, but we know there is much more work to be done. Moving forward, Battleground Texas will continue to grow this grassroots movement and engage Texans – on the phones, and the doors and in their neighborhoods, she said.

(QUIZ: Do you know Wendy Davis?)

The details of the group’s fundraising report may be revealing: officials said that nearly 80 percent of contributions came from within Texas and the median contribution was $ 25. But Texas allows unlimited donations to state political groups, meaning that a small number of ultra-rich donors can foot most of the bill for any advocacy or organizing group.

The fundraising news comes a day after the 2014 gubernatorial campaign kicked off in earnest, as Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced he would seek his party’s nomination to succeed 13-year incumbent Rick Perry, who will not seek reelection. Abbott has $ 23 million in the bank, and the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling found he would start out well ahead of any likely Democratic candidate.

On the Democratic side, gubernatorial speculation has focused on state Sen. Wendy Davis, who seized national attention last month with a filibuster against a GOP-backed bill tightening regulation of abortion clinics. The bill ultimately passed in a special session of the legislature in July.

POLITICO – Congress

Battleground Texas surpasses $1M