It's literally the same emotional reaction that critics of the Iraq War were receiving. If you were against the Iraq War that meant you apparently loved Saddam Hussein and "weren't listening to Iraqis." Apparently only Syrians are allowed to have an opinion on Syria because they're Syrians -- irregardless of their ideology.

Bad faith actors on social media are using this as an opportunity to divide the anti-imperialist movement by, once again, appealing to identity politics.

I suppose what astounds me is the lack of ideological or moral consistency. They shed all the tears and show all the outrage that anyone should when it comes to Palestine, or Lebanon. Yet are cheering alongside the very people they were loudly disagreeing with over those same issues when it comes to Syria.

This is in stark contrast to the western liberals, who's worldview is 100% consistently aligned with western imperialism. They oppose everything they are told to by their leaders, and support everything they are told to.

With these Muslims and Arabs I mentioned, they are somehow capable of seeing through this narrative, but somehow inexplicably susceptible to be blinded by it in this instance. I guess it just shed a light on how hollow the anti-imperialist movement worldwide really is, and that not nearly as much consciousness has been built by the genocide and wars over the past years. It's disappointing, and sobering.

I use the analogy so often: USians blissfully unaware of being life-long Death Star passengers.

One man's toppling a regime and an opportunity to build anew is another man's civil unrest and opportunity to seize more land.

Al jazeera and mid east eye may as well be radio free America. Thwir whole pro palestine feint is a sleight of hand.

I know all about Al-Jazeera, I am well aware that Qatar have funded Syrian rebels, what I cannot wrap my head around is how many Muslims and Arabs have the total lack of political awareness to take what they say at face value. How much of the Palestinian solidarity from them is equally thin and motivated by sectarianism rather than genuine humanitarian outrage? It's deeply disappointing and reveals that we have all failed as supporters of Palestinian freedom to educate enough people as to why the cause matters.

Maybe Syrians in Syria think differently

based on how little the army and militias fought--theoretically stronger supporters of a government--the mood must've been quite sour in Syria itself too

I wasn't rereferring exclusively to Syrians. Sure they may believe this means an end to the war (which is still highly bloody debatable), but I meant specifically diaspora as well as Arabs and Muslims who are not Syrians. I've seen, Egyptians, Moroccans, Algerians and all manner of gulf state Arabs celebrating this. I even know Palestinian, Lebanese, Pakistani and Indonesian expats in my own town who were gladly cheering this on. These people should know better, as they're third parties to the whole thing and should remember that this same pattern has played out in Libya and Iraq within their lifetimes.