Syrian rebels pledge loyalty to al-Qaeda
Mona Alami, USA Today | April 11, 2013

Rep. King: Arming Syria Rebels Could Strengthen Al-Qaeda
www.breitbart.com | May 5, 2013

Syria rebel group’s dangerous tie to al Qaeda
Peter Bergen and Jennifer Rowland, CNN | April 10, 2013

These articles are heavily spun even though the basic facts are evident.

Al-Qaeda Joins the Syrian Rebellion: FrontMage Magazine article from September 16, 2011

…Iraqi military officials have claimed hundreds of armed al-Qaeda insurgents from northern Iraq have recently crossed into Syria to join the fight against the security forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime…. [Early on, in 2011. Neoconservative viewpoint. Discusses funding also.]