text: The US is reluctant to support Ahrar al-Sham because of the risk and possibility that any monetary or military aid given to them might fall into the wrong hands. An even greater risk is that Ahrar al-Sham will become a dangerous group after it completes its goals in Syria. Skepticism on the part of the US seems justified, given the historical precedent of supporting armed groups during the Afghan-Soviet War.
  The fear of indirectly empowering another group like al-Qaeda is a crucial factor in deciding whether to aid Ahrar al-Sham or not. Ideally, the US would like to support an opposition group that is both able to fight ISIS and the Assad regime and is willing to establish a democratic system of government afterwards. Ahrar al-Sham is clearly against ISIS and Assad, but is not willing to establish a democracy afterwards. Instead, it has called for the establishment of a Sunni theocracy in post-Assad Syria; one that would supposedly protect minorities and allow the people to choose the government. In other words, they reject the idea of a secular, Western-like democracy.