Not that covert...

It’s going to be interesting to see if Abu Mohammad al Jolani (the global jihadist) really has become Ahmad Sharaa (Islamist nationalist). He was imprisoned and most likely tortured for his part in Islamic State in Iraq… that can harden a man’s resolve. But he has also witnessed the downfall of the jihadist agenda beloved of Al-Qaeda (and the cost paid by the Taliban in Afghanistan as a consequence) so perhaps a pragmatic side will emerge.

What will the US response be? and will they drop the bounty on his head? I’m sure they would ‘write off’ the causalities among the minorities of embracing the bigger picture goals of a stable Syria (maybe) and a bloody nose for Russia.

The filmmaker Thomas Small has spoken very insightfully about the challenges Syria faces. Worth looking him up.