Some people say that Putin suggested to Assad after the 1st Phase of the Terror War that Russia was willing to provide a substantial loan and Russian investments for development Assad turned the proposal down which shocked Putin. Putin also suggested to Assad that he should rebuild the Syrian military… Read more »
Yes, I just commented on this as well. It beggars belief that he allegedly rejected such offers. Assad’s and therefore Syria’s tragedy is that he’s just a loving family man, who wants nothing but have his own medical practice. And live a quiet life. But destiny took his brother, groomed… Read more »
He was not a one-man show. This must have been the group consensus of Baath Arab Party, led by his father’s cadre – holdouts of a dead era – trusting to “Arabism” which abjectly failed for a century. Obsolete inflexible relics
Agreed. He must have grown tired of them, and decided on shaking up the ranks of the army, which was another decision that backfired. I recall reading that when the Spring broke out, the old cadre barred Bashar’s wife and children from leaving the country: “You’ll stick it out with… Read more »
This is a keeper. An excellent reference. If you start at around the 45:00 minute mark, you can hear Kevork describe concisely how the army fell back from orders, and how surrendering was the only moral choice, to save further destruction. But he describes Assad, and how he knew in… Read more »
Indeed, he abandoned his supporters in great haste. He may have been shocked himself at the speed by which his army collapsed, but still. He could have made some sort of statement, rally the troops still loyal to him etc. The years of cease-fire have been wasted. Assad allegedly rejected… Read more »
Some people say that Putin suggested to Assad after the 1st Phase of the Terror War that Russia was willing to provide a substantial loan and Russian investments for development Assad turned the proposal down which shocked Putin. Putin also suggested to Assad that he should rebuild the Syrian military… Read more »
Yes, I just commented on this as well. It beggars belief that he allegedly rejected such offers. Assad’s and therefore Syria’s tragedy is that he’s just a loving family man, who wants nothing but have his own medical practice. And live a quiet life. But destiny took his brother, groomed… Read more »
He was not a one-man show. This must have been the group consensus of Baath Arab Party, led by his father’s cadre – holdouts of a dead era – trusting to “Arabism” which abjectly failed for a century. Obsolete inflexible relics
Agreed. He must have grown tired of them, and decided on shaking up the ranks of the army, which was another decision that backfired. I recall reading that when the Spring broke out, the old cadre barred Bashar’s wife and children from leaving the country: “You’ll stick it out with… Read more »
This is a keeper. An excellent reference. If you start at around the 45:00 minute mark, you can hear Kevork describe concisely how the army fell back from orders, and how surrendering was the only moral choice, to save further destruction. But he describes Assad, and how he knew in… Read more »
Indeed, he abandoned his supporters in great haste. He may have been shocked himself at the speed by which his army collapsed, but still. He could have made some sort of statement, rally the troops still loyal to him etc. The years of cease-fire have been wasted. Assad allegedly rejected… Read more »
kevork, God bless you.