Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find this enlightening, as other members will. It is a very good insight into the situation. It appears mystifying that a very fragmented opposition to Assad, at one stage comprising 14 disparate groups, emerged as a dominant force ahead of al-Qaeda. From what Dr. Hashemi says, it appears to be the dominant force there. On the other hand, he advises that we should support the other moderate rebels, some of whom are probably already being subsumed into ISIS. In practical terms, how can the situation be turned around? It almost seems as if they will have to be defeated before anything can be done. Most religions place a great emphasis on the dignity, preservation and protection of human life. How can it be that so many within the Muslim communities are prepared to be suicide bombers, for example in 9-11, prepared to lose their own lives as well as killing others? Obviously, it is done in the hope that they can be saved, in religious terms. It seems to jar. Can there be any rapprochementbetween Sunni and Shia, which appears to be the root cause?