Executing the order of transferring the officers considered as Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad’s protégés
In the midst of the bickering between us and Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad, I took permission from the President, the Supreme Commander, to carry out the order to transfer the officers who were his brother’s protégés and who delayed implementation relying on Brigadier-General Rifaat’s support. I pledged to him that this operation would be carried out in an amicable atmosphere and that we would not shed a drop pf blood...
He said to me, “I doubt that they will agree while we are at the peak of the crisis...”
I said, “If you give me the green light, you will see each of them in his new post tomorrow...”
He said, “If you have made up your mind, rely on God...”
I asked my office administrator to notify the 14 transferred officers that they had to be in my office the following day at 6 a.m. When all the officers were notified, they replied saying, “Why at such an early time, while we know that Major General Tlas’ office hours start at 10 a.m. and end at 10 p.m.? So, why should we arrive an hour and a half ahead of the office hours?”
My office administrator replied saying, “The matter is clear and unambiguous. You have to be there tomorrow at 6 a.m.”
The following morning, the officers in question came to my office an hour and a half later than the time set. When I asked them about the reason, the oldest said, “Would you like us to tell you the truth?”
I said, “Yes”
He said, “We saw Abu Durayd.”
I said to them, “So, President Assad was not wrong when he transferred you, and now you are confessing, without any pressure or coercion, that you saw the commander of the Defense Brigades ... What matters is that we should focus on the present, and let bygones be bygones... But before I communicate to you the Supreme Commander’s instructions, I would like to ask you the following question, “Who among you made a personal or a general request to me and had it rejected?”
They all maintained silence and no one gave a reply.
I said to them, “So why do you run the risk and place your confidence and loyalty in a person other than your leader?”
As they maintained silence once again, I went on saying, “The Supreme Commander ordered me to carry out his orders and transfer you to new posts... Those who carry out the orders will be exempted from all punishment or disciplinary accountability (not carrying out the Supreme Commander’s order is considered during times of war a serious crime whose perpetrator is punished by being sentenced to imprisonment for at least 7 years). But in case you insist on committing sins, I have asked your deputies in the military formations and units to arrest you and send you straight to the central prison. In the event of resistance and military rebellion, your deputies have the authorization from me personally to fire on you, and you know that we will not hold them accountable for the results no matter what the latter are, as they will be carrying out orders and instructions while you will be the lawbreakers.
As for the questions of takeover and handover, consider that you have a clearance validated by the minister of defense and you will receive it by mail. Regarding your personal needs, you can send the driver to bring them from your offices, but beware of circumventing the orders. If you are deceitful, our deceit will be stronger, and if you dare to attack the Supreme Commander, I will break your necks this time.
I banged my fist on the table (with the aim of filling them with dread). My loud and serious voice was an indicator of the degree of determination and the lack of leniency... Everybody obeyed the instructions, gave the military salute, and headed for their new posts. No one attempted to maneuver, nor did anyone make contact with Brigadier-General Rifaat once again. I informed President Assad about the success of the mission, which brought him tremendous relief.
He said to me, “I doubt that they will agree while we are at the peak of the crisis...”
I said, “If you give me the green light, you will see each of them in his new post tomorrow...”
He said, “If you have made up your mind, rely on God...”
I asked my office administrator to notify the 14 transferred officers that they had to be in my office the following day at 6 a.m. When all the officers were notified, they replied saying, “Why at such an early time, while we know that Major General Tlas’ office hours start at 10 a.m. and end at 10 p.m.? So, why should we arrive an hour and a half ahead of the office hours?”
My office administrator replied saying, “The matter is clear and unambiguous. You have to be there tomorrow at 6 a.m.”
The following morning, the officers in question came to my office an hour and a half later than the time set. When I asked them about the reason, the oldest said, “Would you like us to tell you the truth?”
I said, “Yes”
He said, “We saw Abu Durayd.”
I said to them, “So, President Assad was not wrong when he transferred you, and now you are confessing, without any pressure or coercion, that you saw the commander of the Defense Brigades ... What matters is that we should focus on the present, and let bygones be bygones... But before I communicate to you the Supreme Commander’s instructions, I would like to ask you the following question, “Who among you made a personal or a general request to me and had it rejected?”
They all maintained silence and no one gave a reply.
I said to them, “So why do you run the risk and place your confidence and loyalty in a person other than your leader?”
As they maintained silence once again, I went on saying, “The Supreme Commander ordered me to carry out his orders and transfer you to new posts... Those who carry out the orders will be exempted from all punishment or disciplinary accountability (not carrying out the Supreme Commander’s order is considered during times of war a serious crime whose perpetrator is punished by being sentenced to imprisonment for at least 7 years). But in case you insist on committing sins, I have asked your deputies in the military formations and units to arrest you and send you straight to the central prison. In the event of resistance and military rebellion, your deputies have the authorization from me personally to fire on you, and you know that we will not hold them accountable for the results no matter what the latter are, as they will be carrying out orders and instructions while you will be the lawbreakers.
As for the questions of takeover and handover, consider that you have a clearance validated by the minister of defense and you will receive it by mail. Regarding your personal needs, you can send the driver to bring them from your offices, but beware of circumventing the orders. If you are deceitful, our deceit will be stronger, and if you dare to attack the Supreme Commander, I will break your necks this time.
I banged my fist on the table (with the aim of filling them with dread). My loud and serious voice was an indicator of the degree of determination and the lack of leniency... Everybody obeyed the instructions, gave the military salute, and headed for their new posts. No one attempted to maneuver, nor did anyone make contact with Brigadier-General Rifaat once again. I informed President Assad about the success of the mission, which brought him tremendous relief.
- So the President (and the Commander in Chief of the Army and Armed Forces) casts doubt on his officers’ obedience to his orders, and Major General Tlas asserted his ability to carry out the transfer orders.
In this regard, the story is interesting. Tlas’ mouthpiece says, “Had I not resorted to severity and firmness, the president could not have achieved a breakthrough!” Mr. Major General, you have made us laugh, and the one who said that you blurt out words before you use your mind, proved to be true.
Then, he asked the officers if he had previously rejected any of their requests. Is it not strange, dear readers, that Tlas fulfilled the requests of the officers working under Brigadier-General Rifaat, although he never liked him in his life? It is undoubtedly strange, but at the same time it gives the readers a clear idea about Major General Tlas’ person. He did not dare to reject requests made by any of Rifaat’s officers, and complied with all their requests, both personal and general, which clearly denotes his weak personality and his inability to play tricks. See how he tells us that he raised his voice and banged his fist on the table, as if we had been listening to an officer at a fresh graduate level.
In this regard, the story is interesting. Tlas’ mouthpiece says, “Had I not resorted to severity and firmness, the president could not have achieved a breakthrough!” Mr. Major General, you have made us laugh, and the one who said that you blurt out words before you use your mind, proved to be true.
Then, he asked the officers if he had previously rejected any of their requests. Is it not strange, dear readers, that Tlas fulfilled the requests of the officers working under Brigadier-General Rifaat, although he never liked him in his life? It is undoubtedly strange, but at the same time it gives the readers a clear idea about Major General Tlas’ person. He did not dare to reject requests made by any of Rifaat’s officers, and complied with all their requests, both personal and general, which clearly denotes his weak personality and his inability to play tricks. See how he tells us that he raised his voice and banged his fist on the table, as if we had been listening to an officer at a fresh graduate level.
But, wait a moment. Didn’t those officers laugh when you told them that you had agreed to all their requests?
To those who do not know Major General Tlas, I need to say that he was nicknamed Abu Muwafik (i.e. the one who agrees) because he used to agree to any request made to him. But soon, the person making the request would regret wasting time and money in the attempt to have the approval of the minister of defense! The reason, very simply, is that this approval did not find receptive ears in any governmental department, even the Ministry of Defense itself!
The Syrians would often make fun of each other when a relative or a friend got Major General Tlas’ agreement (signature) to a certain request. One person would ridicule him while another would say to him, “May God grant you compensation.” As for the experienced man, he would say, “The signature of a first intelligence assistant is more beneficial to you.”
However, most of the requests made to the minister of defense had to do with gun licenses, in addition to requests for authorization of entry into Lebanese territories. In this connection, I will relate some stories that help the readers learn the truth about Tlas. In 1982, one of the military intelligence patrols caught a 7 mm gun carried by a young Syrian walking confidently and feeling proud of the gun hanging on his hip. When he told them the gun was licensed by the minister of defense, they said to him literally, “Damn you and the minister of defense, son of a gun”! He was taken to the Security Department where he was badly beaten and his gun was confiscated. After he left the Security Department, he cursed Tlas and the moment he sought his agreement, but his great calamity was the gun price, in addition to 15.000 liras he paid as a bribe to get the agreement.
Regarding travel authorizations to Lebanon in private cars, they were innumerable. After you get the authorization and get your car and yourself ready, and after you say goodbye to your relatives and friends and you cover a 50 Km distance to the border, security men surprise you by telling you that you have to go back home. As soon as you show them the approval of the minister of defense, they refuse to take it seriously. You certainly go back while you curse the minister who had made you waste your time, money and effort.
To those who do not know Major General Tlas, I need to say that he was nicknamed Abu Muwafik (i.e. the one who agrees) because he used to agree to any request made to him. But soon, the person making the request would regret wasting time and money in the attempt to have the approval of the minister of defense! The reason, very simply, is that this approval did not find receptive ears in any governmental department, even the Ministry of Defense itself!
The Syrians would often make fun of each other when a relative or a friend got Major General Tlas’ agreement (signature) to a certain request. One person would ridicule him while another would say to him, “May God grant you compensation.” As for the experienced man, he would say, “The signature of a first intelligence assistant is more beneficial to you.”
However, most of the requests made to the minister of defense had to do with gun licenses, in addition to requests for authorization of entry into Lebanese territories. In this connection, I will relate some stories that help the readers learn the truth about Tlas. In 1982, one of the military intelligence patrols caught a 7 mm gun carried by a young Syrian walking confidently and feeling proud of the gun hanging on his hip. When he told them the gun was licensed by the minister of defense, they said to him literally, “Damn you and the minister of defense, son of a gun”! He was taken to the Security Department where he was badly beaten and his gun was confiscated. After he left the Security Department, he cursed Tlas and the moment he sought his agreement, but his great calamity was the gun price, in addition to 15.000 liras he paid as a bribe to get the agreement.
Regarding travel authorizations to Lebanon in private cars, they were innumerable. After you get the authorization and get your car and yourself ready, and after you say goodbye to your relatives and friends and you cover a 50 Km distance to the border, security men surprise you by telling you that you have to go back home. As soon as you show them the approval of the minister of defense, they refuse to take it seriously. You certainly go back while you curse the minister who had made you waste your time, money and effort.
Back to the story... I don’t know why I have suddenly felt now that I am wasting my time by using words that are not worth reading. Yet, I am still determined to go on till the end...
How does Brigadier-General Rifaat authorize his officers to consult the minister of defense, while he knows that the minister smuggled the missiles to deploy them against the Defense Brigades?
If Major General Tlas’ words are true in this regard, we are facing only two options:
According to the first one, Brigadier-General Rifaat is still up to now uninvolved in the conspiracy organized against him, as evidenced by the authorization he gave to his 14 officers to consult the office of the minister of defense.
Thus, the story told by Major Youssef Al-Ali is illusory and Brigadier-General Rifaat is unaware of the missile smuggling operation.
According to the second option, these officers are not the protégés of Brigadier-General Rifaat, otherwise he would not have allowed them to meet the minister of defense.
Consequently, the minister of defense would have deceived the president by fabricating stories and reporting unreal patronage to sow the seeds of dissension between Brigadier-General Rifaat and President Hafez Al-Assad.
How does Brigadier-General Rifaat authorize his officers to consult the minister of defense, while he knows that the minister smuggled the missiles to deploy them against the Defense Brigades?
If Major General Tlas’ words are true in this regard, we are facing only two options:
According to the first one, Brigadier-General Rifaat is still up to now uninvolved in the conspiracy organized against him, as evidenced by the authorization he gave to his 14 officers to consult the office of the minister of defense.
Thus, the story told by Major Youssef Al-Ali is illusory and Brigadier-General Rifaat is unaware of the missile smuggling operation.
According to the second option, these officers are not the protégés of Brigadier-General Rifaat, otherwise he would not have allowed them to meet the minister of defense.
Consequently, the minister of defense would have deceived the president by fabricating stories and reporting unreal patronage to sow the seeds of dissension between Brigadier-General Rifaat and President Hafez Al-Assad.
I said to him, “The Army and people do not stand by us in this crisis; it is rather Divine Providence that does.”
I told him the story of Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Jawad who came from Medina to rescue President Assad. I will tell the readers the story as it happened to let them share it with us.
In early February 1984, my wife Lamia Al-Jabiri (Um Firas) called Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Jawad and asked him to come to Syria. He replied saying, “I am now in Medina and before me is an electric heater. I cannot tolerate the cold of Damascus in February.”
Um Firas said to him, “As you please.”
The following day, we were surprised to see Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hindi knock at the door. After I welcomed him, I asked him, “Why did you come to our place?”
He answered, “Ask your wife Um Firas.”
I said, “I want to listen to you.”
He said, “After Um Firas called me, I went to the Prophet’s Mosque and started praying until I was overtaken by sleep. While I was sleeping in the clean garden, I dreamt of the Prophet fully equipped for war. I asked Him, ‘Where are you going God’s Prophet?’ He said, ‘To Damascus... The Damascenes requested our help. Shouldn’t we offer them assistance?’”
He mounted his mule and disappeared like a shooting star. Under the influence of this incident, I called Saudi Arabian Airlines, left Medina on board of the first plane going to Damascus, and here I am among you.”
After we drank coffee, he said to me, “I am entrusted by the Great Prophet with praying in an elevated place in Damascus for three days. We will pray together so that God keeps the country and Leader Hafez Al-Assad.”
I answered him by saying, “Love and dignity.”
He begged me to use Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hindi’s car because it was modest and because we should not approach God while riding the best cars ... I replied by saying that I did not mind at all. The three of us went up to the Kasyoun Mountain and prayed near the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. We invoked the Deity according to the rules.
The following day, he asked that we pray in the highest place in Damascus, near the TV sign in the Kasyoun Mountain. On our way there I was sitting next to the driver. The Guard Commander, who is from the Defense Brigades, recognized me and opened the checkpoint for us after he gave us a military salute. We prayed to God so that he kept the country and its Leader Assad. While I was praying, I noticed there were unusual movements in the place. The tanks were leaving their hiding places and the crew were cleaning the ammunition and canons, in addition to doing other maintenance tasks. I said to myself that perhaps our arrival coincided with the repair shop day for the Defense Brigades.
On the third day, Sheikh Ahmad said that we did not need to pray in such a high place and that we could pray in the house garden. We went down to the garden carrying our prayer mats and prayed God himself.
I confess to the readers that I admired this man for his love for Leader Assad although he had not seen or met him personally.
This incident happened in early February 1984, before anyone, except the President, discovered Rifaat’s intention and determination to lay his cards on the table early on. Sheikh Ahmad stayed in Syria till the crisis was resolved, while Brigadier-General Rifaat left for Russia. (*)
(*) After the crisis ended, I learnt that the sergeant, the Guard Commander who opened the checkpoint for us at the top of Kasyoun Mountain, was punished by Brigadier-General Rifaat who sent him to Al-Wahda Prison where he spent 20 days.
I told him the story of Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Jawad who came from Medina to rescue President Assad. I will tell the readers the story as it happened to let them share it with us.
In early February 1984, my wife Lamia Al-Jabiri (Um Firas) called Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Jawad and asked him to come to Syria. He replied saying, “I am now in Medina and before me is an electric heater. I cannot tolerate the cold of Damascus in February.”
Um Firas said to him, “As you please.”
The following day, we were surprised to see Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hindi knock at the door. After I welcomed him, I asked him, “Why did you come to our place?”
He answered, “Ask your wife Um Firas.”
I said, “I want to listen to you.”
He said, “After Um Firas called me, I went to the Prophet’s Mosque and started praying until I was overtaken by sleep. While I was sleeping in the clean garden, I dreamt of the Prophet fully equipped for war. I asked Him, ‘Where are you going God’s Prophet?’ He said, ‘To Damascus... The Damascenes requested our help. Shouldn’t we offer them assistance?’”
He mounted his mule and disappeared like a shooting star. Under the influence of this incident, I called Saudi Arabian Airlines, left Medina on board of the first plane going to Damascus, and here I am among you.”
After we drank coffee, he said to me, “I am entrusted by the Great Prophet with praying in an elevated place in Damascus for three days. We will pray together so that God keeps the country and Leader Hafez Al-Assad.”
I answered him by saying, “Love and dignity.”
He begged me to use Sheikh Mohammad Al-Hindi’s car because it was modest and because we should not approach God while riding the best cars ... I replied by saying that I did not mind at all. The three of us went up to the Kasyoun Mountain and prayed near the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. We invoked the Deity according to the rules.
The following day, he asked that we pray in the highest place in Damascus, near the TV sign in the Kasyoun Mountain. On our way there I was sitting next to the driver. The Guard Commander, who is from the Defense Brigades, recognized me and opened the checkpoint for us after he gave us a military salute. We prayed to God so that he kept the country and its Leader Assad. While I was praying, I noticed there were unusual movements in the place. The tanks were leaving their hiding places and the crew were cleaning the ammunition and canons, in addition to doing other maintenance tasks. I said to myself that perhaps our arrival coincided with the repair shop day for the Defense Brigades.
On the third day, Sheikh Ahmad said that we did not need to pray in such a high place and that we could pray in the house garden. We went down to the garden carrying our prayer mats and prayed God himself.
I confess to the readers that I admired this man for his love for Leader Assad although he had not seen or met him personally.
This incident happened in early February 1984, before anyone, except the President, discovered Rifaat’s intention and determination to lay his cards on the table early on. Sheikh Ahmad stayed in Syria till the crisis was resolved, while Brigadier-General Rifaat left for Russia. (*)
(*) After the crisis ended, I learnt that the sergeant, the Guard Commander who opened the checkpoint for us at the top of Kasyoun Mountain, was punished by Brigadier-General Rifaat who sent him to Al-Wahda Prison where he spent 20 days.
- The story involves an honorable sheikh and a revelation made by the Great Prophet, God's blessing and peace be upon him, the Great and Almighty. In this regard, we certainly have to say God is great and to invoke the Deity so that He would bless you, Um Firas and the sheikh. We must not make the slightest attempt to deal with the incident from the angle of logic as this is a sin! But no, I will not let you fool me. There is a missing link because we do not know what made Um Firas call the sheikh in question. Did she call him so that he comes to pray? If that is the case, why didn’t she call the many virtuous Syrian sheikhs especially that this sheikh apologized for not coming? Then, what impact does having a modest car or a luxury leave on praying God, the Great and Almighty? Wasn’t the man who used the modest car the same as the one who used the luxury one? If I were in the sheikh’s place, and God’s Prophet ordered me to pray on the Kasyoun Summit, I would have climbed the mountain on foot, or at least I would have ridden a mule, as God’s Prophet, peace be upon Him, had done.
Dear readers, the Major General rode a modest car so that the soldiers of the Defense Brigades deployed in the Kasyoun Mountain did not recognize him...
The revelation, as reported by the sheikh, did not include an order from God to pray for three days at a high place. Did the order come in a second revelation? If that was the case, why did the sheikh disobey an order given by God’s Prophet and pray on the third day in the house garden?
In general, the sheikh deserves acknowledgement for praying for Syria and its president. I wish Um Firas had asked the sheikh to pray for Syria during the incidents caused by the Muslim Brothers.
I also wish that You Major General, would be so kind to call this sheikh or another one in order to pray God so that the occupied Golan Heights are returned to us, and so that the Iskenderun Province, the Gulf islands stolen by Iran, and the Arab Ahwaz are also returned to us. Then, we will be grateful to you.
(*) Why did Brigadier-General Rifaat discipline this sergeant by imprisoning him for twenty for having opened the checkpoint? The latter was opened for everybody upon the mere inspection of the passers’ IDs. Had the passage of Major General Tlas really annoyed Brigadier-General Rifaat, the sanction would have gone beyond six-month imprisonment, not just twenty days.
Dear readers, the Major General rode a modest car so that the soldiers of the Defense Brigades deployed in the Kasyoun Mountain did not recognize him...
The revelation, as reported by the sheikh, did not include an order from God to pray for three days at a high place. Did the order come in a second revelation? If that was the case, why did the sheikh disobey an order given by God’s Prophet and pray on the third day in the house garden?
In general, the sheikh deserves acknowledgement for praying for Syria and its president. I wish Um Firas had asked the sheikh to pray for Syria during the incidents caused by the Muslim Brothers.
I also wish that You Major General, would be so kind to call this sheikh or another one in order to pray God so that the occupied Golan Heights are returned to us, and so that the Iskenderun Province, the Gulf islands stolen by Iran, and the Arab Ahwaz are also returned to us. Then, we will be grateful to you.
(*) Why did Brigadier-General Rifaat discipline this sergeant by imprisoning him for twenty for having opened the checkpoint? The latter was opened for everybody upon the mere inspection of the passers’ IDs. Had the passage of Major General Tlas really annoyed Brigadier-General Rifaat, the sanction would have gone beyond six-month imprisonment, not just twenty days.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Rifai appeared in my dream
President Assad cared about me more than I cared about myself. At the beginning of the crisis he said to me, “You don’t have to sleep in your office every day. You can use maneuvers and sleep in one of the Headquarters’ offices every day, but you will give me the phone number of the office.”
I replied saying, “I am determined to sleep in my office regardless of the consequences, and I need to give an example of the leader who dies in defense of his country, even if he is in his office.”
He said, “If this is your opinion, I agree because it is important to leave a legacy of morals and glorious deeds.”
I was sleeping in my office on March 12, 1984 when I heard rattling in the Umayyad Square after midnight. I estimated that around a thousand men, on top of whom was the honorable Sheikh Ahmad Al-Rifai, were dancing the war dance. The soldiers’ swords touched the ground lightly while the spears stretched to rise above the Headquarters balcony. People held each other’s hands and shoulder-to-shoulder like a solid construction. At the same time, the master of the martial dabkeh (a dance) said in a loud voice that penetrated the sky, “Oh, Prophet and the twinkling star, you are the Imam of a supreme authority.”
When Sheikh Ahmad Al-Rifai uttered the expression “supreme authority”, a thousand feet were stamped and the Umayyad Square was shaken as if it had been struck by an earthquake.
When I got up, I looked out of the window but saw nothing. I went out to the balcony, accompanied by my bodyguard and assistant Sayfeddeen Sa´da, but saw nothing. I went back to bed, but half an hour later, I had a dream. I got out of bed and tried again, but found nothing, so I went back to bed. This is what happened to me in the 3rd dream. I wrote down the date in the office notebook. After the crisis came to an end, Captain Malik Mustafa from the Defense Brigades admitted that Brigadier-General Mustafa Tlas had ordered him three times to fire a portable Kfarika artillery shell at my office. However, five minutes later he would receive a countermanded order to dismantle the shell. Thus, it was Providence that guarded the Headquarters.
I replied saying, “I am determined to sleep in my office regardless of the consequences, and I need to give an example of the leader who dies in defense of his country, even if he is in his office.”
He said, “If this is your opinion, I agree because it is important to leave a legacy of morals and glorious deeds.”
I was sleeping in my office on March 12, 1984 when I heard rattling in the Umayyad Square after midnight. I estimated that around a thousand men, on top of whom was the honorable Sheikh Ahmad Al-Rifai, were dancing the war dance. The soldiers’ swords touched the ground lightly while the spears stretched to rise above the Headquarters balcony. People held each other’s hands and shoulder-to-shoulder like a solid construction. At the same time, the master of the martial dabkeh (a dance) said in a loud voice that penetrated the sky, “Oh, Prophet and the twinkling star, you are the Imam of a supreme authority.”
When Sheikh Ahmad Al-Rifai uttered the expression “supreme authority”, a thousand feet were stamped and the Umayyad Square was shaken as if it had been struck by an earthquake.
When I got up, I looked out of the window but saw nothing. I went out to the balcony, accompanied by my bodyguard and assistant Sayfeddeen Sa´da, but saw nothing. I went back to bed, but half an hour later, I had a dream. I got out of bed and tried again, but found nothing, so I went back to bed. This is what happened to me in the 3rd dream. I wrote down the date in the office notebook. After the crisis came to an end, Captain Malik Mustafa from the Defense Brigades admitted that Brigadier-General Mustafa Tlas had ordered him three times to fire a portable Kfarika artillery shell at my office. However, five minutes later he would receive a countermanded order to dismantle the shell. Thus, it was Providence that guarded the Headquarters.
- I tried in vain to drop the conversation between His Excellency the President and the defense minister owing to President Hafez Al-Assad’s reputation as a sober and skilled interlocutor. See how the president shifted from the teacher’s role to the student’s role in a matter of seconds. Is it a trait in Hafez Al-Assad’s personality? Certainly not. Accordingly, the conversation is untrue and unfounded...
- Tlas says, “The leader dies for his country, even if he is in his office.”
We reply by saying that Tlas dies for his country even if he is on the lap of the Israelian spy Diane Sidney.
- Tlas says, “The leader dies for his country, even if he is in his office.”
We reply by saying that Tlas dies for his country even if he is on the lap of the Israelian spy Diane Sidney.
What is funny in this regard, is that Tlas considers his presence in his office at the heart of the capital while he is surrounded by hundreds of guards, cannons, and rockets represents defense of the nation. This man, who wants to provide us with a lesson of history while he stayed in his office, forgot that he had many opportunities to achieve glorious deeds, the least of which was paying a visit to the Syrian forces in Lebanon, which he did not do.
Now we come to the dream. Of course, I do not question the faith of Major General Mustafa Tlas, as I cannot render judgment on this issue. I will assume that he is a believer, but does it suffice to be a believer in order to receive a vision? Of course not. It is established that visions are received by righteous people.
I don’t know Major General Tlas, but I have read his book. He personally admitted that while he was conspiring against Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad, he used to call and address him by saying “my brother”. So is this an ethical principle that righteous people adhere to? Again, it is not, because righteous people do not lie, nor do they use flattery. Their words rather mirror their inner selves which are crystal clear. If we count the lies told by Major General Tlas in his book, it appears that he is not righteous at all; therefore, how did he receive a vision?!
At best, this claim made by the defense minister can be interpreted as hallucination, even in his sleep, caused by his dread and fear of the Defense Brigades commander. The cause of hallucination is guilt feeling. The man exhausted all sorts of talebearing. He also used a rare type of malice to sow the seeds of discord between President Hafez Al-Assad and Leader Rifaat Al-Assad.
It is remarkable that the Defense Brigades commander used to call Captain Malik Mustafa, etc!!! Why should the Defense Brigades commander call a captain at a time he had hundreds of staff officers at his disposal?
Then he says, “Thus, divine providence protected the Headquarters.” Yet, it would have been more appropriate if he said, “Thus, fear used to deprive me of sleep, food, and drink.” The poor guy here, his assistant Sayfeddeen Sa´da, was afflicted by a defense minister who woke up in a state of horror three times. He had to wake up along with him each time to calm him down and reassure him.
Now we come to the dream. Of course, I do not question the faith of Major General Mustafa Tlas, as I cannot render judgment on this issue. I will assume that he is a believer, but does it suffice to be a believer in order to receive a vision? Of course not. It is established that visions are received by righteous people.
I don’t know Major General Tlas, but I have read his book. He personally admitted that while he was conspiring against Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad, he used to call and address him by saying “my brother”. So is this an ethical principle that righteous people adhere to? Again, it is not, because righteous people do not lie, nor do they use flattery. Their words rather mirror their inner selves which are crystal clear. If we count the lies told by Major General Tlas in his book, it appears that he is not righteous at all; therefore, how did he receive a vision?!
At best, this claim made by the defense minister can be interpreted as hallucination, even in his sleep, caused by his dread and fear of the Defense Brigades commander. The cause of hallucination is guilt feeling. The man exhausted all sorts of talebearing. He also used a rare type of malice to sow the seeds of discord between President Hafez Al-Assad and Leader Rifaat Al-Assad.
It is remarkable that the Defense Brigades commander used to call Captain Malik Mustafa, etc!!! Why should the Defense Brigades commander call a captain at a time he had hundreds of staff officers at his disposal?
Then he says, “Thus, divine providence protected the Headquarters.” Yet, it would have been more appropriate if he said, “Thus, fear used to deprive me of sleep, food, and drink.” The poor guy here, his assistant Sayfeddeen Sa´da, was afflicted by a defense minister who woke up in a state of horror three times. He had to wake up along with him each time to calm him down and reassure him.
The plan devised by Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad to control Damascus
Brigadier-Genreal Rifaat Al-Assad used to take advantage of the periods during which the Muslim Brotherhood exercised pressure on the different public utilities to demand, at the peak of the crisis, the transfer of officers and soldiers to the unit. The human resources department was responsive, and so were the organization and administrative departments, which inflated the number from 16,000 to 40,000 soldiers holding different ranks in the unit. Keeping enlistment open played a favorable role; therefore each recruit joining the unit was seen as an extra staff member. The Defense Brigades originally consisted of an armored division, a mountain infantry brigade, 3 landing battalions, a special commando battalion, and an independent tank battalion. In order for the brigades to assimilate this large number of soldiers, Brigadier-General Rifaat formed 4 irregular infantry brigades which he named the “surrounding brigades”, gave them numbers of his own, and entrusted each brigade with the task of controlling the axes leading to Damascus as follows:
- The first brigade was in charge of the Homs-Damascus axis.
- The second brigade was in charge of the Beirut-Damascus axis.
- The third brigade was in charge of the Kneytra-Damascus axis.
- The fourth brigade was in charge of the Der´a and Sweyda’-Damascus axis.
Controlling Damascus mainly necessitated closing the major axes in the face of the striking units and formations stationed outside the city and whose loyalty was to Leader Al-Assad. At the same time, 3 detachments consisting of a tank brigade, a mechanized infantry brigade, and a combat engineer platoon would all move. The task of controlling the residence of the president of the republic would be carried out by the first detachment. At the same time, the second detachment would control the Headquarters, and the third brigade would occupy the radio and TV premises and announce to the world the news of Rifaat Al-Assad’s takeover. Since the inhabitants of the capital Damascus were to be notified that an iron fist has now assumed power, the BM21 (*) artillery battalions would shell Damascus randomly to terrorize its inhabitants. Thus, the Damascenes would become like the Baghdadis in the days of “pilgrimage” formerly, and Saddam’s later on.
After that, the infantry detachments of the Defense Brigades would plunder the devastated city. Brigadier-General Al-Assad had notified his officers and soldiers that the city would be theirs for three full days, after which no one in the Defense Brigades would be poor. If any soldier asked for assistance or a bonus later on, his hand would be cut. For this reason, the writers of Syria’s modern history have to appreciate the importance of President Assad’s wisdom which he used to defuse the crisis at a slow pace.
(*) A battalion of this type can fire 720 shots in 1 minute 20 seconds. It is the modern generation of the Katyusha rockets that were devised by Russian military engineers during World War II and that played a crucial role in Nazi strikes. In a whispered conversation between Abu Durayd and his political advisor Mohammad Haydar while they were walking by moonlight in Al-Kaboun camps, the former said, “Isn’t it a pity to destroy this beautiful city?” Haydar replied saying, “By God, it is a pity, but we can’t do anything about it.”
- The first brigade was in charge of the Homs-Damascus axis.
- The second brigade was in charge of the Beirut-Damascus axis.
- The third brigade was in charge of the Kneytra-Damascus axis.
- The fourth brigade was in charge of the Der´a and Sweyda’-Damascus axis.
Controlling Damascus mainly necessitated closing the major axes in the face of the striking units and formations stationed outside the city and whose loyalty was to Leader Al-Assad. At the same time, 3 detachments consisting of a tank brigade, a mechanized infantry brigade, and a combat engineer platoon would all move. The task of controlling the residence of the president of the republic would be carried out by the first detachment. At the same time, the second detachment would control the Headquarters, and the third brigade would occupy the radio and TV premises and announce to the world the news of Rifaat Al-Assad’s takeover. Since the inhabitants of the capital Damascus were to be notified that an iron fist has now assumed power, the BM21 (*) artillery battalions would shell Damascus randomly to terrorize its inhabitants. Thus, the Damascenes would become like the Baghdadis in the days of “pilgrimage” formerly, and Saddam’s later on.
After that, the infantry detachments of the Defense Brigades would plunder the devastated city. Brigadier-General Al-Assad had notified his officers and soldiers that the city would be theirs for three full days, after which no one in the Defense Brigades would be poor. If any soldier asked for assistance or a bonus later on, his hand would be cut. For this reason, the writers of Syria’s modern history have to appreciate the importance of President Assad’s wisdom which he used to defuse the crisis at a slow pace.
(*) A battalion of this type can fire 720 shots in 1 minute 20 seconds. It is the modern generation of the Katyusha rockets that were devised by Russian military engineers during World War II and that played a crucial role in Nazi strikes. In a whispered conversation between Abu Durayd and his political advisor Mohammad Haydar while they were walking by moonlight in Al-Kaboun camps, the former said, “Isn’t it a pity to destroy this beautiful city?” Haydar replied saying, “By God, it is a pity, but we can’t do anything about it.”
- The human resources department and the organization and administrative departments always obeyed the orders of Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad as they trusted him and his leadership. Their obedience was also attributed to their awareness of the fact that he is the leader to be entrusted with protecting the life of Syria’s president, Syria’s people, and Syria’s territories. Add to this his being the only one who could repel the Israeli attack on Lebanon, and the only person who could deal effectively with the internal disturbances in Syria, with the help of the Defense Brigades, and the honest officers and soldiers in other military units. Had it not been for Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad, a single medal would not have remained on your chest Mr. General, or even you personally would not have remained alive.
What is bizarre Mr. General, is that you did not explain the reasons behind the expansion of the Defense Brigades and the increase in their numbers (volunteers) so quickly, certainly because of the deep hatred you harbor against the Defense Brigades and their commander.
Why did Syria’s youth opt for the Defense Brigades to the exclusion of other army units?
Was it not because they like the Defense Brigades and their commander?
Wasn’t enlistment in the rest of army units open?
Certainly, it was open in all the units, but not more than one or two used to join. Regular army units led by Tlas reached a stage whereby they accepted the physically disabled in order to fill the gap created by the need for officers and soldiers.
Regarding the question why soldiers liked the Defense Brigades commander, there are reasons that a liar and inhumane person like Mustafa Tlas cannot understand. Our readers should know that there were many reasons that made Syrian young men join the Defense Brigades, and that we could deal with some in a detailed study at a later stage. But in this hasty discussion, we can say that the first thing experienced and felt by those who were in the Defense Brigades was their value as human beings in a country whose rulers suffer from a deficiency in expressions dealing with humans and upright citizens. This encounter between soldiers and their integrity created a new model for the military in the history of modern armies. Thus, loyalty at work now represented more than a mere word, and total devotion in serving one’s country had no ceiling. Each soldier began to see himself as a proud eagle that boasted of himself and of his commander, while his country took pride in him.
This did not happen in Syria before and it will not happen later on. This will only happen under a courageous and noble-minded leader. The more his soldiers showed loyalty and perseverance, he reciprocated it with greater loyalty and perseverance. This is exactly the commander of the Defense Brigades.
What is bizarre Mr. General, is that you did not explain the reasons behind the expansion of the Defense Brigades and the increase in their numbers (volunteers) so quickly, certainly because of the deep hatred you harbor against the Defense Brigades and their commander.
Why did Syria’s youth opt for the Defense Brigades to the exclusion of other army units?
Was it not because they like the Defense Brigades and their commander?
Wasn’t enlistment in the rest of army units open?
Certainly, it was open in all the units, but not more than one or two used to join. Regular army units led by Tlas reached a stage whereby they accepted the physically disabled in order to fill the gap created by the need for officers and soldiers.
Regarding the question why soldiers liked the Defense Brigades commander, there are reasons that a liar and inhumane person like Mustafa Tlas cannot understand. Our readers should know that there were many reasons that made Syrian young men join the Defense Brigades, and that we could deal with some in a detailed study at a later stage. But in this hasty discussion, we can say that the first thing experienced and felt by those who were in the Defense Brigades was their value as human beings in a country whose rulers suffer from a deficiency in expressions dealing with humans and upright citizens. This encounter between soldiers and their integrity created a new model for the military in the history of modern armies. Thus, loyalty at work now represented more than a mere word, and total devotion in serving one’s country had no ceiling. Each soldier began to see himself as a proud eagle that boasted of himself and of his commander, while his country took pride in him.
This did not happen in Syria before and it will not happen later on. This will only happen under a courageous and noble-minded leader. The more his soldiers showed loyalty and perseverance, he reciprocated it with greater loyalty and perseverance. This is exactly the commander of the Defense Brigades.
Now we come to the rest of the paragraph:
Brigadier-General Rifaat wanted to declare himself president of his people, while at the same time his army robbed this people!!
Did you discover now the reason behind the tale of Sheikh Al-Rifai and the Prophet’s revelation, and after that General Tlas’ vision?
To those who do not know, I say that General Tlas related those tales due to his awareness of our people’s nature and religiosity, and due to his belief that such tales would help him let his lies and falsehood pass Brigadier-General Rifaat, as it was inconceivable that a pious man like General Tlas fabricates could slander anyone.
However, dear readers, we consider that when you carry on reading this discussion and reach, you offer decisive evidence that you are rational and that you can distinguish right from wrong. All we ask you to do is to deal with these lies rationally and logically.
Doubtless, we are facing a serious slander for which General Tlas will be held accountable by the Lord. This tale could have been true if Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad and his army had come from another country to invade Syria and desecrate it. Tlas forgot that the commander of the Defense Brigades and his soldiers are Syrian citizens who sacrificed their lives for their country in different battles that laid the foundations of Syria’s modern history and brought about security and stability.
(*) It seems that Tlas deals with the readers as if they were almost illiterate. The disgrace does not lie in the readers, but rather in the general who feared Lieutenant Colonel Salim Barakat for six years and did not dare to speak a word. At the same time he presents himself to us as a man who managed to penetrate the Kaboun camps and wiretapped Brigadier-General Rifaat’s conversations, even the whispered ones.
Brigadier-General Rifaat wanted to declare himself president of his people, while at the same time his army robbed this people!!
Did you discover now the reason behind the tale of Sheikh Al-Rifai and the Prophet’s revelation, and after that General Tlas’ vision?
To those who do not know, I say that General Tlas related those tales due to his awareness of our people’s nature and religiosity, and due to his belief that such tales would help him let his lies and falsehood pass Brigadier-General Rifaat, as it was inconceivable that a pious man like General Tlas fabricates could slander anyone.
However, dear readers, we consider that when you carry on reading this discussion and reach, you offer decisive evidence that you are rational and that you can distinguish right from wrong. All we ask you to do is to deal with these lies rationally and logically.
Doubtless, we are facing a serious slander for which General Tlas will be held accountable by the Lord. This tale could have been true if Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad and his army had come from another country to invade Syria and desecrate it. Tlas forgot that the commander of the Defense Brigades and his soldiers are Syrian citizens who sacrificed their lives for their country in different battles that laid the foundations of Syria’s modern history and brought about security and stability.
(*) It seems that Tlas deals with the readers as if they were almost illiterate. The disgrace does not lie in the readers, but rather in the general who feared Lieutenant Colonel Salim Barakat for six years and did not dare to speak a word. At the same time he presents himself to us as a man who managed to penetrate the Kaboun camps and wiretapped Brigadier-General Rifaat’s conversations, even the whispered ones.