General Manaf Tlas, one of the top leaders of Syria’s Republican Guard and a childhood friend of President Bashar Assad, has defected to Turkey. It is the 16th general to have defected from the regime, and by far the biggest loss.
Gen. Tlas’ loss is not only a huge one militarily, but symbolically as he is one of the top ranking Sunnis in the military and from a hugely important Sunni family that includes several other top military leaders past and present.
That includes Tlas’ father, Mustafa Tlas, who was Syria’s Army Chief of Staff for years and held the position of Defense Minister from 1972 through 2004. Apparently fearing retaliation for the defection, Mustafa is said to have gone into hiding in Paris, France.
The loss of Tlas reflects a growing sectarian divide in Syrian society, with tensions between the majority Sunnis and the ruling Alawite having driven wedges between friendships across society, all the way to the top with Assad and Tlas.
Whether Tlas is simply leaving the scene or plans to join the rebels remains to be seen. Many other defecting generals have joined the Free Syrian Army, but the group is increasingly divided.
'Huge loss'…'Symbolic'…sure…
I assume this means the 'rebels' no longer need 'our' and/or 'NATO's' help. Clearly… So what is the 'issue' then? It's only a matter of time, of course… We're just spectators here… Let' just put the popcorn in the microwave and watch Assad fall. That would be the obvious rational response to all of this… So again, what is the 'issue' exactly?
I even saw a 'picture' in "The Guardian" of the almighty FSA checking text messages and seeming unconcerned about the military tank that was right next to them:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/05/top-s…
They are obviously well in control here…
All this after a "meeting" earlier this week in Cairo where Kofi Annan pleaded with the "opposition" to 'come together' in order to have some sort of legitimacy, or convince some people of something or another….not sure what that was about…
This kind of reminds me of the time Joe Lieberman voted to impeach Bill Clinton… Clinton was in his "final throws"… and that was the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back'… Maybe it's more like when retired 4 star General Wesley Clark ran for President and bad mouthed George W. Bush… We all know how that turned out… It was the "end", so to speak….
All this 'news' coincidentally coming at the precipice of some sort of "meeting" scheduled by the "world powers" ("Western" at least) China and Russia are "boycotting"… A meeting 'aimed at bringing practical support to the Syrian people'….
http://www.voanews.com/content/france-syria-talks…
I know all this to be true because 'Dear Leader' "say" so.
Additionally, the definition of "gullible" cannot be found in any dictionary…much less on the internet… It is a fabrication and a word that simply does not exist…even in slang…if you've even ever heard of it to begin with…
I must admit this is fine journalism… Keep up the good work…
This comes close to an act of war from the side of the UN:
"Kofi Annan pleaded with the "opposition" to 'come together' in order to have some sort of legitimacy, or convince some people of something or another"
Not to speak about the many CIA staff sent as "UN monitors" into Syria.
Must have cost the Saudis a few bob!
There are many and also violent options to reach wanted decisions in a professionally managed Special Forces Unconventional Warfare (UW):
The intent of U.S. Unconventional Warfare efforts is to exploit a hostile power’s political, military, economic, and psychological vulnerabilities by developing and sustaining resistance forces to accomplish U.S.strategic objectives."
source: US ARMY 2011, search USArmy-UW.pdf at publicintelligence. net
I seem to remember that General Arnold was considered a traitor.
So, this is the latest news from Syria, so what new insight does it give us?
None, for military generals kill on command, are void of anything that resembles a conscience and will surely jump-ship the moment a CIA agent hands them a briefcase filled with unmarked $100 bills.
It is so easy to understand – I bet all defectors are Sunnis. I do not believe that defected generals joined FSA. I just cannot imagine general taking orders from Collonel, who is the leader of so called "Free Syrian Army". Sunni member of armed forces of Syria gets a letter from their Sunni "rebel" brethrens which simply says – you either defect or …
We all know what is hiding behind those ellipsis (killing of all his known family members, torture of his wife, daughters or sons). Who would not defect when Saudis will pay him more than sanctioned state can. You lose nothing. That is exactly how mafia and other criminal organizations work.
That’s a bunch of lies. A general is not an ordinary soldier. According to this manufactured piece of news apparently from a Turkish source and dutifully reported by Anti-war, so far 14 generals have defected but not even a single name given. If this was true, Turkish newspapers would have splashed their names proudly with the largest font size on the headlines.
It's time for Assad to let there be an election.
I am against the foreign aggression, however
for the sake of all Syrians I hope he allows an election.
I have not been to Syria since the mid-1980's. My Syrian
friends, albeit they were college students here in the US,
did not like the suppression of free speech at all.
zioctopus, two or three months ago there was an election – as a part of Assad's adherence to Annan plan. It was ignored by "opposition". Thus, I think there are other, probably outside powers who dictate what "Syrian opposition" wants.
Zioctopus,
Please identify the last time "peaceful protesters" were killed at a "protest" in Syria–which seem to be happening daily in Syria (based on lame-stream accounts)…or perhaps they've died out on thier own…who knows…
Anyway…something like "free speech" is not something to die over… Anyone who has an actual job and an actual "boss", or "client" for that matter, knows this… I could get into a deep 'philosophical' conversation about this (which I'm almost certain most wouldn't understand in the first place)…but the bottom line is that 'we' in the US have 'free speech' to a certain, and noticeable, degree; however, no one has the "right" to be 'listened' to. It's really not that big of a deal…much less something to die over.
Additionally: "tolerance" in society–any society–does not come through 'violence'; rather the opposite…
And adding onto what was already said: Assad is on board with "elections"….so obviously there is no "issue"…
If there is an "issue", what exactly is it, and what is your proposed "solution"?
generals promoted beyond their morals & integrity
So Syria has a Republican Guard now? I thought that was Saddam Hussein's army? That's probably where those weapons of mass destruction went, too.