[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ds-1col clearfix\u0022\u003E\n\n  \n\n  \n  \u003Cp\u003EOn April 10, 2013, Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani released a statement rejecting Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi\u2019s claim that al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Nusra Front had merged. In the statement, al-Golani pledged his allegiance to al-Qaeda\u2019s leader, Ayman al-Zawahri.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe New York Times\u003C\/em\u003E covered al-Baghdadi\u2019s announcement, but did not immediately address al-Golani\u2019s response, including his public pledge of fealty to Ayman al-Zawahiri.\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003EHania Mourtada and Rick Gladstone, \u201cIraq\u2019s Branch of Al Qaeda Merges With Syria Jihadists,\u201d New York Times, April 9, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2013\/04\/10\/world\/middleeast\/Iraq-and-Syria-jihadists-combine.html\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2013\/04\/10\/world\/middleeast\/Iraq-and-Syria-jihadists-combine.html\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cem\u003EThe Wall Street Journal\u003C\/em\u003E covered both al-Baghdadi\u2019s claim and al-Golani\u2019s response in one article titled, \u201cAl Qaeda Declares Stake in Syrian Rebellion.\u201d Its author, Nour Malas, predicted that al-Qaeda\u2019s now-open involvement in Syria would bring a schism to the rebel movement.\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003ENour Malas, \u201cAl Qaeda Declares Stake in Syrian Rebellion,\u201d Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.wsj.com\/news\/articles\/SB10001424127887323550604578412280884558740\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.wsj.com\/news\/articles\/SB10001424127887323550604578412280884558740\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAl Jazeera reported on al-Baghdadi\u2019s April 9 declaration,\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003E\u201cIraqi al-Qaeda and Syrian group \u2018merge,\u2019\u201d Al Jazeera, April 9, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/middleeast\/2013\/04\/201349194856244589.html\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/middleeast\/2013\/04\/201349194856244589.html\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E as well as al-Golani\u2019s pledge of allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri.\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003E\u201cSyria Group \u0027Pledges Allegiance\u0027 to Al-Qaeda,\u201d Al Jazeera, April 10, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/middleeast\/2013\/04\/2013410114851988704.html\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/middleeast\/2013\/04\/2013410114851988704.html\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E The article on al-Golani\u2019s response seemed to cover the announcement with a number of qualifiers: \u201cA man claiming to be the head of a key group fighting the Syrian government has purportedly pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda\u2026\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003E\u201cSyria Group \u0027Pledges Allegiance\u0027 to Al-Qaeda,\u201d Al Jazeera, April 10, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/middleeast\/2013\/04\/2013410114851988704.html\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/middleeast\/2013\/04\/2013410114851988704.html\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E In covering the Nusra Front\u2019s declaration of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, CNN seemed to temper al-Golani\u2019s pledge of allegiance to al-Qaeda by emphasizing that al-Golani had rejected the merger with al-Qaeda in Iraq and stated his intention to continue cooperating with other rebel groups. The article opens: \u201cA Syrian jihadist group appears to have pledged allegiance to al Qaeda\u0027s leader\u2014but also stressed it can achieve a Syrian Islamic state only by working with other rebels, including secularists. The group, al-Nusra Front, also denies an earlier claim that it has merged with Iraq\u0027s al Qaeda affiliate, according to an audio message purported to be from al-Nusra general commander Abu Muhammad al-Joulani.\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003ESaad Abedine and Jason Hanna, \u201cSyrian Jihad Group Pledges Allegiance to Al Qaeda, Denies Merger,\u201d CNN, April 10, 2013,\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2013\/04\/10\/world\/meast\/syria-al-nusra-front\/index.html\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2013\/04\/10\/world\/meast\/syria-al-nusra-front\/index.html\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n","dialogOptions":{"minWidth":850,"resizable":true,"modal":true,"title":"The Nusra Front Pledges Allegiance to Al-Qaeda"}},{"command":"doFootnotes"}]