The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee warned that al Qaeda is developing a safe haven in Syria along the Iraqi border, where it is planning attacks against the West, much as al Qaeda did in Afghanistan. He said there are now over 10,000 “committed” al Qaeda members in eastern Syria, more than the number of foreign fighters in Iraq during the US occupation. A Turkish news report claimed that a US official said the distribution of nonlethal aid to the Syrian rebels has been suspended as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham now controls the Turkish border gate at Azaz. It also alleged that the Obama administration began disengaging with the Syrian rebels on Oct. 2, laying down conditions for the continuation of aid.
