Concurrent events indicate that there is one master behind them
A major characteristic of this crisis is that the military escalation caused by Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad coincided with every visit Lebanese President Amin Gemayel paid to Syria. Although Lebanese politicians do not like at all to break ties with the United States, the leadership of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, and particularly Amin Gemayel, consider that loyalty to the US a sacred issue that nothing can override. Despite claiming that France is their tender mother, they lie because their eyes are always set on America. During the crisis that lasted over three months, the Lebanese president paid us three visits. In the history of special relations between any two countries in the world, no other president visited the same country with such frequency. This proves that the visits were inspired by the US administration. However, although America was aware of what was going on in the Defense Brigades through its agent Captain Joseph Sinsil, it was totally unaware of what was going on in President Assad’s circle. Consequently, President Gemayel was asked to go to Damascus to find out what was going on behind the scenes.
For the sake of historical accuracy, President Assad was extraordinarily talented in hiding his intentions from his opponents. Although he never played poker in his life, his maintained a poker face in front of the people he met, particularly pro-US figures or those falling within the US orbit. Thus, all the reports sent to Washington indicated that President Assad was in peak condition, hence the disappointment of the US administration and the defeat of its malicious purposes.
For the sake of historical accuracy, President Assad was extraordinarily talented in hiding his intentions from his opponents. Although he never played poker in his life, his maintained a poker face in front of the people he met, particularly pro-US figures or those falling within the US orbit. Thus, all the reports sent to Washington indicated that President Assad was in peak condition, hence the disappointment of the US administration and the defeat of its malicious purposes.
- Enough falsehood and bluffing. Do you mean that the Lebanese alone had their eyes set on America?
No. A thousand no.
All of you had your eyes set on America, sometimes out of fear and sometimes out of desire. You deluded a people who still assumes that this was true, while you are its deadliest enemy.
What does America want from us? Oil? It knows that we only have a little. Territories? We don’t have any. Water? It doesn’t need ours.
Will you say Israel?
I will say fine. You seized the oil, territories, water, dignity, freedom, businesses, palaces, offices, cars, prestige, and dreams. You left us only newspapers and empty slogans. You seized from the people everything that Ibrahim Hanano, Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali, Sultan Basha Al-Atrash, and others struggled for.
Then, what can Israel rob us of?
So, enough outbidding. The collapse of the Soviet Union confirmed the leader’s expectations, and here you are within the American orbit, like a microscopic comet unable to find its trajectory.
As for the Kataeb Party, the unfolding course of events has proved that they are ardent nationalists. No wonder if you, as a liar, describe your opponents as traitors.
This is Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad, the man who gives everyone their due, and sees what other Syrian leaders refuse to see. He praised the Lebanese Kataeb Party 25 years ago and described its members as fervent nationalists. He expressed this opinion in a meeting with the Seventh Brigade officers, and in the presence of the Defense Brigades officers and other army unit officers:
No. A thousand no.
All of you had your eyes set on America, sometimes out of fear and sometimes out of desire. You deluded a people who still assumes that this was true, while you are its deadliest enemy.
What does America want from us? Oil? It knows that we only have a little. Territories? We don’t have any. Water? It doesn’t need ours.
Will you say Israel?
I will say fine. You seized the oil, territories, water, dignity, freedom, businesses, palaces, offices, cars, prestige, and dreams. You left us only newspapers and empty slogans. You seized from the people everything that Ibrahim Hanano, Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali, Sultan Basha Al-Atrash, and others struggled for.
Then, what can Israel rob us of?
So, enough outbidding. The collapse of the Soviet Union confirmed the leader’s expectations, and here you are within the American orbit, like a microscopic comet unable to find its trajectory.
As for the Kataeb Party, the unfolding course of events has proved that they are ardent nationalists. No wonder if you, as a liar, describe your opponents as traitors.
This is Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad, the man who gives everyone their due, and sees what other Syrian leaders refuse to see. He praised the Lebanese Kataeb Party 25 years ago and described its members as fervent nationalists. He expressed this opinion in a meeting with the Seventh Brigade officers, and in the presence of the Defense Brigades officers and other army unit officers:
Recently this video was unexpectedly released to prove Brigadier-General Assad’s insight and to show the sharp disagreements between him and the Syrian leadership about a number of Middle Eastern issues, Lebanon being the widest regional arena for divergent views.
The dissolution of the Alumni Association of Higher Education
Hardly had Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad taken a B.A. in History in 1974 (*), than he established the Alumni Association of Higher Education and got the approval of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs so that he would be working under the umbrella of the law. The justification he gave for his action was that it was in President Assad’s interest if the Alumni Association of Higher Education was loyal to the regime, as his brother Rifaat was the president of this association. The news spread like lightning and all opportunists or people having a bid for power joined the association.
The cars and non-symbolic gifts were distributed to followers and extollers, thanks to the head of the association and his generosity. A special and secret instruction was sent by the Vatican to our Christian brothers asking them to join the association in large numbers. Mr. Ghassan Shalhoub was chosen to be the deputy head of the association to give a green light to all those who did not get the message, to join the association ranks. The Muslim Brotherhood incidents, which took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, served as a crude indicator that the association did not exist and that this large number of members was meaningless.
When the crisis occurred, the association members thought it was time to reap the fruit of their labor. Therefore, they started to openly attack President Hafez Al-Assad in their closed circles and accused him of being a dictator, while they also claimed that Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad defended democracy in Syria. They held a conference at the Sheraton Hotel and it was attended by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Brigadier-General Assad’s genius failed him, so he started such a confused talk about democracy and the general conditions in Syria that no one could understand though they tried hard. When the conferees disbanded, they were in a state of disarray and realized that the association would come to an end and that their dreams were gone with the wind because what is built on falsity is false.
Although I realized in advance that the association was practically dissolved, I called some friends who had joined it and asked them to withdraw, thus contributing to its collapse from within and without.
In the midst of the pressure of work, I received a call from association member Wafic Arnous who said to me, “Can you guarantee my safety?”
I replied saying, “I can guarantee that you will absolutely not be sent to jail. As for your expulsion from the party, I cannot make any promise.”
In return for this guarantee, he promised to bring all the association records to my home so that no one could see him. And at 1 a.m. my wife informed me that the trust arrived, so I said to her, “Send it right away to the office.”
I spent the whole night reviewing all the records brought from the Alumni Association of Higher Education. My attention was drawn by the presence of a majority of our Christian co-citizens. When I calculated the number of members, I found out that it was a little more than 5,000. And when I reviewed the names with religious connotations, I found out that over 4,000 i.e. more than 80 % were Christians. Since their proportion to the Syrian population was different, I realized that the US intelligence must have given them instructions to join it, hence their large number. For the information of the readers, it is not a coincidence that the members of the Regional Command who joined the association, such as party fellows Waheeb Tannous and Elias Al-Lati are Christians, and party fellow Abdel Ra’ouf Al-Kassem, as we know, was married to a Christian. Far be it from me to discuss this issue but I hope the readers will forgive my openness. I am a believer who respects all faiths that call for forgiveness, but unfortunately anti-Islamic bigotry that had been introduced by Zionists, has come to fruition everywhere, from Bosnia to Herzegovina, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the remnants of Muslim states in the former Soviet Union. All are trying to check the winds of revolution coming from the East.
What matters is that when I sent the documents to the presidential palace, Mr. President ordered that the Alumni Association of Higher Education be put under close supervision. After the crisis came to an end, the Regional Command issue Resolution No. 574 dated 5/7/1984 in which the association members were asked to get out of this commitment and devote all their political activism to the party. The resolution threatened any party fellow who would oppose this instruction with expulsion from the party. Consequently, the Alumni Association, which outwardly suggested mercy whereas it brought about suffering in truth, disappeared from the scene.
(*) While Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad was majoring in history, the Chairperson of the Department, Dr. Mohammad Kheireddeen complained to me that Rifaat used to come to the university with a guard detachment on examination days, without the proctors daring to question him. “So what am I supposed to do”, he asked me.
I said, “Do not do anything because he will not teach history at this university.”
As soon as Rifaat got his B.A. in history, he registered at the school of law, along with his wife Lynn and his son Durayd. They used to sit for the exam together in the office of the University President Dr. Ziad Shawbaki out of concern about the security of the students and that of the intelligence. When they received the questions along with cups of coffee and the first year books, Rifaat said, “Damn it. Send us a professor who shows us where we can find the answers to these questions.”
The cars and non-symbolic gifts were distributed to followers and extollers, thanks to the head of the association and his generosity. A special and secret instruction was sent by the Vatican to our Christian brothers asking them to join the association in large numbers. Mr. Ghassan Shalhoub was chosen to be the deputy head of the association to give a green light to all those who did not get the message, to join the association ranks. The Muslim Brotherhood incidents, which took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, served as a crude indicator that the association did not exist and that this large number of members was meaningless.
When the crisis occurred, the association members thought it was time to reap the fruit of their labor. Therefore, they started to openly attack President Hafez Al-Assad in their closed circles and accused him of being a dictator, while they also claimed that Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad defended democracy in Syria. They held a conference at the Sheraton Hotel and it was attended by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Brigadier-General Assad’s genius failed him, so he started such a confused talk about democracy and the general conditions in Syria that no one could understand though they tried hard. When the conferees disbanded, they were in a state of disarray and realized that the association would come to an end and that their dreams were gone with the wind because what is built on falsity is false.
Although I realized in advance that the association was practically dissolved, I called some friends who had joined it and asked them to withdraw, thus contributing to its collapse from within and without.
In the midst of the pressure of work, I received a call from association member Wafic Arnous who said to me, “Can you guarantee my safety?”
I replied saying, “I can guarantee that you will absolutely not be sent to jail. As for your expulsion from the party, I cannot make any promise.”
In return for this guarantee, he promised to bring all the association records to my home so that no one could see him. And at 1 a.m. my wife informed me that the trust arrived, so I said to her, “Send it right away to the office.”
I spent the whole night reviewing all the records brought from the Alumni Association of Higher Education. My attention was drawn by the presence of a majority of our Christian co-citizens. When I calculated the number of members, I found out that it was a little more than 5,000. And when I reviewed the names with religious connotations, I found out that over 4,000 i.e. more than 80 % were Christians. Since their proportion to the Syrian population was different, I realized that the US intelligence must have given them instructions to join it, hence their large number. For the information of the readers, it is not a coincidence that the members of the Regional Command who joined the association, such as party fellows Waheeb Tannous and Elias Al-Lati are Christians, and party fellow Abdel Ra’ouf Al-Kassem, as we know, was married to a Christian. Far be it from me to discuss this issue but I hope the readers will forgive my openness. I am a believer who respects all faiths that call for forgiveness, but unfortunately anti-Islamic bigotry that had been introduced by Zionists, has come to fruition everywhere, from Bosnia to Herzegovina, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the remnants of Muslim states in the former Soviet Union. All are trying to check the winds of revolution coming from the East.
What matters is that when I sent the documents to the presidential palace, Mr. President ordered that the Alumni Association of Higher Education be put under close supervision. After the crisis came to an end, the Regional Command issue Resolution No. 574 dated 5/7/1984 in which the association members were asked to get out of this commitment and devote all their political activism to the party. The resolution threatened any party fellow who would oppose this instruction with expulsion from the party. Consequently, the Alumni Association, which outwardly suggested mercy whereas it brought about suffering in truth, disappeared from the scene.
(*) While Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad was majoring in history, the Chairperson of the Department, Dr. Mohammad Kheireddeen complained to me that Rifaat used to come to the university with a guard detachment on examination days, without the proctors daring to question him. “So what am I supposed to do”, he asked me.
I said, “Do not do anything because he will not teach history at this university.”
As soon as Rifaat got his B.A. in history, he registered at the school of law, along with his wife Lynn and his son Durayd. They used to sit for the exam together in the office of the University President Dr. Ziad Shawbaki out of concern about the security of the students and that of the intelligence. When they received the questions along with cups of coffee and the first year books, Rifaat said, “Damn it. Send us a professor who shows us where we can find the answers to these questions.”
I would like to ask a couple of questions.
Mr Tlass, do you have any problem with Syria’s communities? And why do you insist on using treason and treachery expressions?
Why do you describe all those who supported Brigadier-General Assad of being opportunists and hypocrites?
Did you make a monkey of the association members while you did not in the case of the Regional Command members?
The Christians in Syria suffered marginalization for decades, so is there any objection to the fulfillment of their aspirations, even if it is through the Alumni Association of Higher Education?
Regarding Brigadier-General Assad’s speech, we and other people read it, and no one found it hard to understand. But if you, Mr. Tlass, could not understand it, it is because Brigadier-General Assad was addressing wise people blessed with awareness and understanding, rather than addressing naïve people like you.
- In fact, I am unable to describe Wafic Arnous’ story and hope it is not true. It is true that we strongly disagree with you, Mr. Tlas, but we still have friendly feelings for you, at least because you were imposed on us for over 40 years. This is a sad and heartbreaking story, but I see that dealing with it is inevitable as the readers will ask questions if it is ignored.
You did not only enter the house without having its owner’s permission, but you also stole things from that house. What you did is immoral at first, and second, it is illegal. You did not have the right to have access to the association records, and I will content myself with this comment at the moment.
As for Wafic Arnous, if he did it, this means he simply did not behave ethically. Congratulations on his loyalty to you.
(*) I have recently learned that you used to send Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad a letter of apology following each statement you made, and you claimed that your words were distorted. Is there a distortion about you in this note?
For everybody’s information, the commander of the Defense Brigades was too busy to study law. He was never a student in the school of law, nor did he sit for any exam given in any of its courses. We challenge you to prove the opposite. This also applies to Dr. Lynn. If your deafness and blindness have prevented you from learning about Dr Lynn’s specialty, you should learn, liar, that she is an ophthalmologist and that many Syrians are familiar with her clinic where she used to treat all her patients for free. Then, why did she need to study law?
It should be also noted that Dr. Durayd Al-Assad refuted Tlass’ allegations in the website www.jablah.com whereby he confirmed that was never enrolled in the school of law, nor did he sit for an exam in the president’s office or any other office. The following are excerpts from an article by Dr. Durayd. The background of the text is blue.
To read the original article clich here or see the screenshot
Mr Tlass, do you have any problem with Syria’s communities? And why do you insist on using treason and treachery expressions?
Why do you describe all those who supported Brigadier-General Assad of being opportunists and hypocrites?
Did you make a monkey of the association members while you did not in the case of the Regional Command members?
The Christians in Syria suffered marginalization for decades, so is there any objection to the fulfillment of their aspirations, even if it is through the Alumni Association of Higher Education?
Regarding Brigadier-General Assad’s speech, we and other people read it, and no one found it hard to understand. But if you, Mr. Tlass, could not understand it, it is because Brigadier-General Assad was addressing wise people blessed with awareness and understanding, rather than addressing naïve people like you.
- In fact, I am unable to describe Wafic Arnous’ story and hope it is not true. It is true that we strongly disagree with you, Mr. Tlas, but we still have friendly feelings for you, at least because you were imposed on us for over 40 years. This is a sad and heartbreaking story, but I see that dealing with it is inevitable as the readers will ask questions if it is ignored.
You did not only enter the house without having its owner’s permission, but you also stole things from that house. What you did is immoral at first, and second, it is illegal. You did not have the right to have access to the association records, and I will content myself with this comment at the moment.
As for Wafic Arnous, if he did it, this means he simply did not behave ethically. Congratulations on his loyalty to you.
(*) I have recently learned that you used to send Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad a letter of apology following each statement you made, and you claimed that your words were distorted. Is there a distortion about you in this note?
For everybody’s information, the commander of the Defense Brigades was too busy to study law. He was never a student in the school of law, nor did he sit for any exam given in any of its courses. We challenge you to prove the opposite. This also applies to Dr. Lynn. If your deafness and blindness have prevented you from learning about Dr Lynn’s specialty, you should learn, liar, that she is an ophthalmologist and that many Syrians are familiar with her clinic where she used to treat all her patients for free. Then, why did she need to study law?
It should be also noted that Dr. Durayd Al-Assad refuted Tlass’ allegations in the website www.jablah.com whereby he confirmed that was never enrolled in the school of law, nor did he sit for an exam in the president’s office or any other office. The following are excerpts from an article by Dr. Durayd. The background of the text is blue.
To read the original article clich here or see the screenshot
General Mustafa Tlass wrote a book entitled America Urges Rifaat Al-Assad to Assume Power in 1984.
General Tlass said on page 65 of the book:
“As soon as Rifaat got his B.A. in history, he registered at the school of law, along with his wife Lynn and his son Durayd. They used to sit for the exam together in the office of the University President Dr. Ziad Shawbaki out of concern about the security of the students and that of the intelligence. When they received the questions along with cups of coffee and the first year books, Rifaat said, ‘Damn it. Send us a professor who shows us where we can find the answers to these questions.”’
The information acquired by the author is not correct at all. I never joined the school of law, nor did I sit for any exam in the office of the president of the university. I majored in medicine as of the academic year 1982-1983.
I consider that this mistake damages my reputation and represents an assault on my life and on my family. I see that the author inflicted great moral damage to me that is punishable by law. It would have been more appropriate if the general inquired about the issue rather than talking randomly. We thank God that people have a memory, and that the records of the University of Damascus are still kept for whoever wishes to scrutinize the general’s statements. We also thank God that we are still alive, and the people who experienced that period with us are still alive and some are now occupying senior positions in the country.
General Tlass said on page 65 of the book:
“As soon as Rifaat got his B.A. in history, he registered at the school of law, along with his wife Lynn and his son Durayd. They used to sit for the exam together in the office of the University President Dr. Ziad Shawbaki out of concern about the security of the students and that of the intelligence. When they received the questions along with cups of coffee and the first year books, Rifaat said, ‘Damn it. Send us a professor who shows us where we can find the answers to these questions.”’
The information acquired by the author is not correct at all. I never joined the school of law, nor did I sit for any exam in the office of the president of the university. I majored in medicine as of the academic year 1982-1983.
I consider that this mistake damages my reputation and represents an assault on my life and on my family. I see that the author inflicted great moral damage to me that is punishable by law. It would have been more appropriate if the general inquired about the issue rather than talking randomly. We thank God that people have a memory, and that the records of the University of Damascus are still kept for whoever wishes to scrutinize the general’s statements. We also thank God that we are still alive, and the people who experienced that period with us are still alive and some are now occupying senior positions in the country.
- Lying about such issues is a shame, Mustafa Tlass. It would have been more appropriate if you spoke about how you became minister of defense, although you are not qualified to drive a fire engine. If only you would tell us about how your son Manaf Tlass became an officer. Despite the fact that officers who had joined the military school earlier still hold the rank of lieutenant colonel, your son who is a genius rose to the rank of brigadier, God knows how.
A meeting with the Fifth Brigade was scheduled on April 17, 1984 in the battlefield of Ezreh. I asked the brigade commander General Ahmad Abdel Nabi to call the commander of the Derha section, the secretaries of the military divisions, all the notables, the intellectuals, the mayors, and the tribal leaders in Houran as April 17 represented a national day for all social strata and the celebration should reflect this fact. All those invited came and the place was decorated with President Assad’s photos, the party flags, and national flags. But the secretary of the section Ahmad Zanboua and Governor Mohammad Mustafa Miro apologized for not coming on the pretext that they had to make a party round in the Yarmouk Valley.
I said to the division commander, “Didn’t you tell them that I am coming to the Mohafaza under instructions from the President of the Republic Hafez Al-Assad, and that the meeting is official, and not a military or party round?”
He said, “By God, I told them but they preferred to wriggle out of coming for an unspecified reason.”
I said to him, “Both are hypocrites and connected with Brigadier-General Rifaat. I will make them pay the price of their evasion no matter how long.” (*)
Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad learnt about these field visits, so he tried to anticipate a problem by sending Mr. President a false pledge of blood on behalf of the Defense Brigades. But heartfelt words touch the heart whereas insincere ones fall on deaf ears. On this basis, the false pledge of blood sent by Brigadier-General Rifaat did not create any impact on the president.
Following 62 rounds made to all the military outposts and military formations, I wrote my book A pledge of Blood that I dedicated to His Excellency the President on my 52nd birthday on May 11, 1984. The introduction that preceded the script is one of the magnificent passages I have ever written on political and national issues. As a result, I decided to detail it at the end of the booklet so that the readers can share with me the conditions in which the struggle for power was taking place.
(*) I returned the favor to both fellows during the elections of the Eighth Party Congress that were held in the fall of 1984. I entrusted Major General Adnan Badr Hassan to follow up the issue. The two men ran for elections in Al-Sanamayin district in an escape from the confrontation in the mohafazat center, not knowing that in our capacity as the party in power, we can reach all parts of Syria. As soon as the first round of elections was held, the two fellows collapsed, and the voters went out of the division and lined up to dance dabkeh as if they had been holding a national celebration. As for the party fellows who fell on the path of struggle, they left humiliated and all the signs of defeat and disappointment, as well as the feeling of guilt appeared on their faces. Afterwards, I became confident that fellow Miro was a victim of Zanboua who had informed him that brothers would not fight, and that they should remain neutral.
I said to the division commander, “Didn’t you tell them that I am coming to the Mohafaza under instructions from the President of the Republic Hafez Al-Assad, and that the meeting is official, and not a military or party round?”
He said, “By God, I told them but they preferred to wriggle out of coming for an unspecified reason.”
I said to him, “Both are hypocrites and connected with Brigadier-General Rifaat. I will make them pay the price of their evasion no matter how long.” (*)
Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad learnt about these field visits, so he tried to anticipate a problem by sending Mr. President a false pledge of blood on behalf of the Defense Brigades. But heartfelt words touch the heart whereas insincere ones fall on deaf ears. On this basis, the false pledge of blood sent by Brigadier-General Rifaat did not create any impact on the president.
Following 62 rounds made to all the military outposts and military formations, I wrote my book A pledge of Blood that I dedicated to His Excellency the President on my 52nd birthday on May 11, 1984. The introduction that preceded the script is one of the magnificent passages I have ever written on political and national issues. As a result, I decided to detail it at the end of the booklet so that the readers can share with me the conditions in which the struggle for power was taking place.
(*) I returned the favor to both fellows during the elections of the Eighth Party Congress that were held in the fall of 1984. I entrusted Major General Adnan Badr Hassan to follow up the issue. The two men ran for elections in Al-Sanamayin district in an escape from the confrontation in the mohafazat center, not knowing that in our capacity as the party in power, we can reach all parts of Syria. As soon as the first round of elections was held, the two fellows collapsed, and the voters went out of the division and lined up to dance dabkeh as if they had been holding a national celebration. As for the party fellows who fell on the path of struggle, they left humiliated and all the signs of defeat and disappointment, as well as the feeling of guilt appeared on their faces. Afterwards, I became confident that fellow Miro was a victim of Zanboua who had informed him that brothers would not fight, and that they should remain neutral.
Making visits to the military units and formations
After the Army Headquarters, the Presidential Palace, and the president’s home became safe, I decided to pay field visits to all our military formations, accompanied by Chief of Staff General Ali Aslan. While I was giving an orientation speech in the presence of officers, noncommissioned officers, and soldiers, I attacked American hegemony, American agents in the region, the US unlimited support for the Zionist enemy and its obvious bias toward Israel, against its opposition to all targets furthering Arab interests. At the same time, I praised President Assad’s glorious deeds, his role in building modern Syria and in the October War (1973), and the War of Attrition fought in defense of Lebanon’s independence so that it would maintain its Arab identity and culture. I also praised the role played by the Lebanese resistance against the Israeli army and foreign armies that came to back Israel against our Arab nation. I received positive feedback on my speeches from all the listeners.
In special meetings with officers up to the rank of battalion commander, I used to put them in the picture of the entire conspiracy and reveal names, in line with my usual frankness. At the end of the round, I used to receive from the formation I visited a pledge of blood as an expression of loyalty to Mr. President.
The news on these encounters used to be conveyed to Mr. President either through official channels or informal ones. He was happy about the outcome and saw that the rounds brought about benefits at the field level by pulling the rug from under Rifaat’s feet. No one in the armed forces could delude himself into believing that he was the loyal guardian to his brother Mr. President. When Commander Assad asked me if I made those rounds daily, I conceded to the secretary general that General Mustafa Tlas was no longer young Lieutenant Colonel Tlas who used to go to different places in the early days of the March 8 Revolution, during the Corrective Movement, and during the preparation for the glorious October War! So he said, “How do schedule your daily tasks?”
I replied saying, “I visit the formations every other day and take a rest doing office work on other days.”
He said, “This is good. Keep working in the same way.”
In special meetings with officers up to the rank of battalion commander, I used to put them in the picture of the entire conspiracy and reveal names, in line with my usual frankness. At the end of the round, I used to receive from the formation I visited a pledge of blood as an expression of loyalty to Mr. President.
The news on these encounters used to be conveyed to Mr. President either through official channels or informal ones. He was happy about the outcome and saw that the rounds brought about benefits at the field level by pulling the rug from under Rifaat’s feet. No one in the armed forces could delude himself into believing that he was the loyal guardian to his brother Mr. President. When Commander Assad asked me if I made those rounds daily, I conceded to the secretary general that General Mustafa Tlas was no longer young Lieutenant Colonel Tlas who used to go to different places in the early days of the March 8 Revolution, during the Corrective Movement, and during the preparation for the glorious October War! So he said, “How do schedule your daily tasks?”
I replied saying, “I visit the formations every other day and take a rest doing office work on other days.”
He said, “This is good. Keep working in the same way.”
- Why did Mustafa Tlass act individually? He did it to anticipate events and to thwart the efforts made in the Assad family with a view to holding a meeting between the president and the brigadier-general. The brothers’ meeting means a frank dialogue which also means that Tlas and similar people who sow the seeds of discord would be a thing of the past.
Tlas is aware of this reality, and he is also aware that the news of his visits to the army units would reach Brigadier-General Rifaat Assad before it reached the president. Then, Rifaat would be infuriated for believing that such visits were made under orders from the president himself. It was on this assumption that Tlas came up with his plan. Thus, he set out everywhere to spread the poison of discord and to hinder any possibility of meeting between the two Assads. In the event the president asked him about his motivation, the answer was ready:
“Mr. President, you are our cherished leader and the nation’s leader. I and all the major figures of the regime will not let anyone compete with you, even if it were Brigadier-General Rifaat because you are the greatest man in this nation, and the sole purpose of my visits is to ascertain this truth to all the army troops.”
Therefore, Tlass admits by himself that he used to make those rounds to sow the seeds of discord between the president and his brother. On the other hand, listen to what Brigadier-General Rifaat says about his brother the president, before the soldiers of the Seventh Brigade whose commander had invited him:
Tlas is aware of this reality, and he is also aware that the news of his visits to the army units would reach Brigadier-General Rifaat Assad before it reached the president. Then, Rifaat would be infuriated for believing that such visits were made under orders from the president himself. It was on this assumption that Tlas came up with his plan. Thus, he set out everywhere to spread the poison of discord and to hinder any possibility of meeting between the two Assads. In the event the president asked him about his motivation, the answer was ready:
“Mr. President, you are our cherished leader and the nation’s leader. I and all the major figures of the regime will not let anyone compete with you, even if it were Brigadier-General Rifaat because you are the greatest man in this nation, and the sole purpose of my visits is to ascertain this truth to all the army troops.”
Therefore, Tlass admits by himself that he used to make those rounds to sow the seeds of discord between the president and his brother. On the other hand, listen to what Brigadier-General Rifaat says about his brother the president, before the soldiers of the Seventh Brigade whose commander had invited him:
At the end of this presentation, we will discuss this video, as well as other excerpts, in more detail.
- Tlass boasts of the War of Attrition! You are a pretentious man claiming to have something you don’t have. The War of Attrition was fought by the Defense Brigades, not the Army, and you are certainly aware of this fact. But what you don’t know is that abuses were heaped upon you after every visit you paid to the army units, because the last thing the soldiers hoped to have, was listening to someone who stole their allowances and sold them nationalistic rhetoric in his speeches.
- Tlass is talking about his birthday as if we were living in a country like Sweden, and as if the only thing left to the Syrian people is to think about Tlass’ birthday!
- What is the worth of the pledge of blood, Major General Tlass?
Did the United States and European countries build their military arsenals and conduct their technological revolutions on the basis of pledges of blood that do not yield any practical results?
They bring the poor soldier to make him sign the pledge of loyalty, but instead of giving him a pen, they give him a pin or a dirty knife to cut his fingers and make a fingerprint with his blood, in acceptance of the subservience, humiliation and disrespect that he experiences in his country. Countless are the soldiers who caught hand infections, let alone infectious diseases that are transmitted through blood. But what can we do about this general’s nomination as the first deputy of the army commander, and as a member in the National Command and Regional Command of the Arab Baath Socialist Party?!
Alas! I bemoan you my nation’s soldiers and your blood that was shed only to increase the number of medals on Tlass’ chest. By God, had he had the minimum of a thinking mind, he would not have put one medal on his chest as long as a meter of our territory is occupied.
With all my love to President Hafez Al-Assad, may God’s mercy be upon him, Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad did not send any pledge of blood because his loyalty and that of his soldiers have always been to the nation.
(*) Definitely, because we live in a state that is run like a stable where the rule of law is nonexistent. Had Major General Tlass realized what he said, he would have gone out of sight. But doesn’t this require the existence of a thinking mind?!
- What is the worth of the pledge of blood, Major General Tlass?
Did the United States and European countries build their military arsenals and conduct their technological revolutions on the basis of pledges of blood that do not yield any practical results?
They bring the poor soldier to make him sign the pledge of loyalty, but instead of giving him a pen, they give him a pin or a dirty knife to cut his fingers and make a fingerprint with his blood, in acceptance of the subservience, humiliation and disrespect that he experiences in his country. Countless are the soldiers who caught hand infections, let alone infectious diseases that are transmitted through blood. But what can we do about this general’s nomination as the first deputy of the army commander, and as a member in the National Command and Regional Command of the Arab Baath Socialist Party?!
Alas! I bemoan you my nation’s soldiers and your blood that was shed only to increase the number of medals on Tlass’ chest. By God, had he had the minimum of a thinking mind, he would not have put one medal on his chest as long as a meter of our territory is occupied.
With all my love to President Hafez Al-Assad, may God’s mercy be upon him, Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad did not send any pledge of blood because his loyalty and that of his soldiers have always been to the nation.
(*) Definitely, because we live in a state that is run like a stable where the rule of law is nonexistent. Had Major General Tlass realized what he said, he would have gone out of sight. But doesn’t this require the existence of a thinking mind?!
Sad Friday April 13, 1984
Major General Ali Haydar called from his Al-Kaboun outpost at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 1984 and told me that according to the information available to him, the Defense Brigades began to move from an olive garden toward Damascus.
A little later, I received a call from Brigadier Adnan Al-Assad, the Commander of the Antitank Struggle Brigades. He said that the Defense Brigades moved toward Damascus and that he could see them from Al-Muaddimiyya camp with the naked eye.
I notified the military intelligence detachments stationed at all the road axes leading to Damascus. I also called President Assad to inform him and in less than a minute, he called me back and said, “I called Brigadier-General Rifaat who assured me that the information communicated to you is false and unfounded.”
I said to President Assad, “I am absolutely certain that Brigadier-General Rifaat had ordered his soldiers to move and that he wants to gain time.”
He said to me, “I will call you back and let you know.”
Five minutes later, the president did not call but I received a call from Brigadier Adnan Makhlouf, the Commander of the Republican Guard, who said that the president had gone on his own to the residence of his brother Rifaat Al-Assad in the suburbs of Al-Mazzeh and gave him the following instructions, “If I don’t come back in an hour’s time, tell Major General Tlass to execute the plan. At the same time, give instructions to the division commanders to carry out the orders only issued by Major General Tlass.”
Every hour President Assad was absent from his office was equivalent to ages (*). The army commander was on his nerves and so were the commanders of the striking formations, because the battle would be fierce and no one wanted to see innocent citizens wounded. In the meantime, Brigadier-General Rifaat was applying the tactics he learned from his friend Yasser Arafat (Abou Ammar) who was used to hiding behind civilians so as not to be hit directly. However, a happy outcome was achieved less than five minutes before the time set for the plan execution. President Assad managed with his wisdom, courage, and experience to defuse the crisis and the tanks were withdrawn from the posts they had reached in southern and northern Damascus. In order to let the readers live the incidents, I will relate what happened on that sad Friday.
President Assad and his brother agreed to meet at the end of Al-Mazzeh highway where the latter was waiting for him. Accompanied by their mother, they set out from there to the road leading to the airport and to the Kfarsousa traffic circle. The president and his brother got out of the car there and the former said, “Look at the tanks that you claimed had not moved.”
The president asked the Company Commander First Lieutenant Mouin Bedran to return the tanks to their initial posts, but he stood still and ignored the president’s orders as if he had been smoking a cannabis cigarette. Rifaat was happy at this sight to suggest to the president that things were out of hand and that he was unable to rein the officers’ zeal in helping him seize power. Here President Assad lost his usual composure and said to the company commander, “I told you to return the tanks to their posts immediately.” Then, Brigadier-General Assad theatrically climbed the tank and slapped First Lieutenant Mouin Bedran’s face and said to him, “Carry out the president’s orders. Are you deaf?” (**) The tanks were returned to their posts, and each of President Assad and Brigadier-General Rifaat went back to their offices. Thus, the dark cloud got off our chest and the nation’s.
(*) Sura, Koranic verse 47.
(**) On the same night, Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad sent the said company commander 20.000 liras, the equivalent of $5.000 at the time, as a compensation for having slapped his face. And when this officer died 7 years following the incident, Brigadier-General Rifaat lamented him in a book, which indicates the close ties between them.
A little later, I received a call from Brigadier Adnan Al-Assad, the Commander of the Antitank Struggle Brigades. He said that the Defense Brigades moved toward Damascus and that he could see them from Al-Muaddimiyya camp with the naked eye.
I notified the military intelligence detachments stationed at all the road axes leading to Damascus. I also called President Assad to inform him and in less than a minute, he called me back and said, “I called Brigadier-General Rifaat who assured me that the information communicated to you is false and unfounded.”
I said to President Assad, “I am absolutely certain that Brigadier-General Rifaat had ordered his soldiers to move and that he wants to gain time.”
He said to me, “I will call you back and let you know.”
Five minutes later, the president did not call but I received a call from Brigadier Adnan Makhlouf, the Commander of the Republican Guard, who said that the president had gone on his own to the residence of his brother Rifaat Al-Assad in the suburbs of Al-Mazzeh and gave him the following instructions, “If I don’t come back in an hour’s time, tell Major General Tlass to execute the plan. At the same time, give instructions to the division commanders to carry out the orders only issued by Major General Tlass.”
Every hour President Assad was absent from his office was equivalent to ages (*). The army commander was on his nerves and so were the commanders of the striking formations, because the battle would be fierce and no one wanted to see innocent citizens wounded. In the meantime, Brigadier-General Rifaat was applying the tactics he learned from his friend Yasser Arafat (Abou Ammar) who was used to hiding behind civilians so as not to be hit directly. However, a happy outcome was achieved less than five minutes before the time set for the plan execution. President Assad managed with his wisdom, courage, and experience to defuse the crisis and the tanks were withdrawn from the posts they had reached in southern and northern Damascus. In order to let the readers live the incidents, I will relate what happened on that sad Friday.
President Assad and his brother agreed to meet at the end of Al-Mazzeh highway where the latter was waiting for him. Accompanied by their mother, they set out from there to the road leading to the airport and to the Kfarsousa traffic circle. The president and his brother got out of the car there and the former said, “Look at the tanks that you claimed had not moved.”
The president asked the Company Commander First Lieutenant Mouin Bedran to return the tanks to their initial posts, but he stood still and ignored the president’s orders as if he had been smoking a cannabis cigarette. Rifaat was happy at this sight to suggest to the president that things were out of hand and that he was unable to rein the officers’ zeal in helping him seize power. Here President Assad lost his usual composure and said to the company commander, “I told you to return the tanks to their posts immediately.” Then, Brigadier-General Assad theatrically climbed the tank and slapped First Lieutenant Mouin Bedran’s face and said to him, “Carry out the president’s orders. Are you deaf?” (**) The tanks were returned to their posts, and each of President Assad and Brigadier-General Rifaat went back to their offices. Thus, the dark cloud got off our chest and the nation’s.
(*) Sura, Koranic verse 47.
(**) On the same night, Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad sent the said company commander 20.000 liras, the equivalent of $5.000 at the time, as a compensation for having slapped his face. And when this officer died 7 years following the incident, Brigadier-General Rifaat lamented him in a book, which indicates the close ties between them.
- If Brigadier-General Rifaat had resolved on occupying Damascus and moved his forces to this end, what made him agree to meet the president?
I don’t think, Mr. Tlass, that you can convince the readers unless you tell them the entire story, without skipping or distorting any details. Nor will the readers be convinced that Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad reduced the struggle for power to a confrontation with the president, the way you relate it, in front of a first lieutenant.
- Did the Defense Brigades really move, or did they only use the stick to frighten those who show hostility toward them?
We will certainly discuss the issue of using the stick at a later stage when we refer to Patrick Seale’s book. The readers will then discover Tlass’ lies and that what he relates falls under the regime’s campaign to stain the reputation of the Defense Brigades commander.
Who told Tlass about the story of First Lieutenant Mouin Bedran?
Mr. President? I don’t think he would sit with him to share such details with him.
Leader Rifaat Al-Assad? Certainly not.
Mouin Bedran? Again, it can’t be.
- It is as if Major General Tlass wanted to say that President Hafez Al-Assad took his mother with him to intercede with Brigadier-General Rifaat, or at least, this is what can be inferred.
Otherwise, why did President Hafez Al-Assad take his mother along to the Kfarsousa traffic circle where the tanks were stationed?
- I would like to emphasize the fact that by commenting on Tlass’ book, Syria’s Knights aim at uncovering the falsity and distortion of the information presented. As for the rectification, i.e. revealing the truth about what happened in 1984, we will do it later by publishing the relevant facts at a later stage on the pages of this website.
(*) Tlass compares himself with the Creator, but it could have been a printing mistake.
(**) Nice words... This means that the dollar was equal to 4 Syrian liras in 1984. So what made the dollar rise to 20 liras a couple of months after Leader Al-Assad left Syria, and to 50 liras a few years later?
In order to answer this question, we have to refer to the financial accountability committee that was reactivated by Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad during the 7th Regional Command Conference held in 1979, and that was the main reason for the latent malice harbored by Tlass and similar officials toward Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad. We will discuss this commission in the near future.
I don’t think, Mr. Tlass, that you can convince the readers unless you tell them the entire story, without skipping or distorting any details. Nor will the readers be convinced that Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad reduced the struggle for power to a confrontation with the president, the way you relate it, in front of a first lieutenant.
- Did the Defense Brigades really move, or did they only use the stick to frighten those who show hostility toward them?
We will certainly discuss the issue of using the stick at a later stage when we refer to Patrick Seale’s book. The readers will then discover Tlass’ lies and that what he relates falls under the regime’s campaign to stain the reputation of the Defense Brigades commander.
Who told Tlass about the story of First Lieutenant Mouin Bedran?
Mr. President? I don’t think he would sit with him to share such details with him.
Leader Rifaat Al-Assad? Certainly not.
Mouin Bedran? Again, it can’t be.
- It is as if Major General Tlass wanted to say that President Hafez Al-Assad took his mother with him to intercede with Brigadier-General Rifaat, or at least, this is what can be inferred.
Otherwise, why did President Hafez Al-Assad take his mother along to the Kfarsousa traffic circle where the tanks were stationed?
- I would like to emphasize the fact that by commenting on Tlass’ book, Syria’s Knights aim at uncovering the falsity and distortion of the information presented. As for the rectification, i.e. revealing the truth about what happened in 1984, we will do it later by publishing the relevant facts at a later stage on the pages of this website.
(*) Tlass compares himself with the Creator, but it could have been a printing mistake.
(**) Nice words... This means that the dollar was equal to 4 Syrian liras in 1984. So what made the dollar rise to 20 liras a couple of months after Leader Al-Assad left Syria, and to 50 liras a few years later?
In order to answer this question, we have to refer to the financial accountability committee that was reactivated by Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad during the 7th Regional Command Conference held in 1979, and that was the main reason for the latent malice harbored by Tlass and similar officials toward Brigadier-General Rifaat Al-Assad. We will discuss this commission in the near future.