I’ve been struck by a strain of commentary asking observers of the world scene to focus on and celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. Understandably, Assad has run a nasty, blood-curdling despotism, outfitted with secret police to oppress Sunni rivals. He hosted Iranian proxies who in turn harassed and murdered others in the region.

But, the prime force ousting him is Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — an umbrella group for Sunni jihadists and including everyone from the Islamic State to Nour al-Din al-Zenki (whom I’ve often mentioned in this space, because they filmed themselves beheading children even as they were in receipt of U.S. support). This collection of radicals is led by the former head of al-Qaeda in Syria, Mohammed al-Golani. He is a designated terrorist and currently has a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S. government. Yet, the press is giving him a “reinvention” story.

Maybe it’s having seen 9/11, but I can’t bring myself to focus on the silver linings of al-Qaeda’s victories. Al-Golani is adverting himself to governments that might recognize his incoming regime as a moderate and a pluralist. But, already the Christian archbishop of Aleppo is prophesying the swift end of Christianity in Syria.