Syria: six more Army generals defect

[tabatha]

12/03/2012
By Nadia Al-Turki

London, Asharq Al-Awsat- As al-Assad’s military campaign on Idlib and Jabal al-Zawiya continues, Staff Brigadier General Fayez Qaddur Amr, who left the Syrian regime a month ago and joined the defecting Syrian officers in Turkey, confirmed that six generals have recently arrived in Turkey and joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA) there, after defecting from the Syrian regime. He said: "I can confirm their defection and they are with me now. Two of them come from Latakia, one from the Golan Heights, one from Idlib, and another from Homs." He added: "Some arrived two days ago and the others yesterday afternoon."

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat in a telephone interview, Amr said that "a large number" of military personnel are planning to defect from the al-Assad regime soon.

For his part, FSA media official Fahd al-Masri, who was speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat by telephone from his headquarters in Paris, went further to say that 12 senior officers have in fact defected. He elaborated that "six generals, four colonels, a lieutenant colonel, and a major have announced their defection. A female first lieutenant has become the first woman to defect from the Syrian army. She defected on International Women's Day in order to symbolize the role of women in the Syrian revolution." He added: "Two or three other officers - whose ranks are currently unknown - have also sought refuge in Turkey and will join the Free Military Council."

The Turkish state news agency, Anadolu, reported that 10 senior Syrian Army officers, including four generals and two colonels, have defected from the regular army and arrived in Turkey. Anadolu quoted local sources in Turkey – speaking to the Agence France Presse (AFP) – detailing that these officers came from Damascus and Homs (in central Syria) and Latakia (northwestern Syria). However, Fayez Qaddur Amr would only confirm that six generals have defected. Yet he said that over the past days he has observed a large number of civilians arriving in Turkey, and added: "There may be other military personnel among them."

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=28827

[tabatha]

1. Defecting General .... NO #AlQueda in #FSA RANKS

DEFECTING #Syria GENERAL “NO #AlQueda in #FSA RANKS”: "I swear on my military honour that there are no al-Qaeda elements in Syria.

There are no al-Qaeda members among our groups, so let the West rest assured.

Al-Qaeda was created by the Iranian regime, and the rumor of an al-Qaeda presence among us has only served the Syrian and Iranian Regimes”

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/gd2j0t

[Robeysays]

2. this whole "it's alqueda" thing is complete bullshit.

wasn't there a report that said there were only about 200-500 Alqueda people left in the world?

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. The US government disagrees.

"Al Qaeda Infilitrating Syrian Opposition, US Officials Say"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/al-qaeda-infiltrating-syrian-opposition-us-officials-say/2012/02/16/gIQA9LDJIR_story.html

[tabatha]

10. Where is the evidence of Al Qaeda?

Where is the evidence of Al Qaeda?
"this is because the American newspaper The Washington Post — quoting US intelligence agents — reported that the only evidence Washington has of an Al-Qaeda presence in Syria is the style — yes the style — of the bombing that took place in Damascus, and nothing more! "

Where is the evidence of Al Qaeda?
Syria has provided none.

Where is the evidence of Al Qaeda?
There is none - even from the people who are supposed to be AQ
Several tribal sheikhs (Iraq) admitted their men had gone to Syria to fight the forces of Mr Assad. But they reject the allegation of al-Qaeda ties. Far from being al-Qaeda supporters, these tribal sheikhs led the local Sahwa, or “Awakening” brigades that turned against the terrorist movement in 2006, repelled by its violence and the fact that many of its members were from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and elsewhere. With American support, they largely defeated al-Qaeda in Iraq, though regular attacks persist across the country.

Where is the evidence of Al Qaeda?
Al Qaeda has not claimed responsibility for anything in Syria. They usually do.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Al Qaeda was created by the Iranian regime?

This guy is talking out his ass.

[tabatha]

14. Iran supported Al Qaeda in Iraq - when prior to the invasion there was no Al Qaeda under Saddam

In effect, they did support the creation of Al Qaeda in Iraq.

"Al Qaeda and its affiliate, al Qaeda in Iraq, are among the terrorist groups supported by the MOIS, which is Iran's chief intelligence agency."

"A terrorist in Iraq linked to Al-Qaeda has also admitted that Iran is supporting Al-Qaeda with weapons and money, and says that he personally has dispatched terrorists to Iraq via Syria, also implicating that country (which is an ally of Iran)."

Nope, I think the talking out of the ass is not applicable to him.

[Robeysays]

3. I can only hope that this hastens the organization of a working revolutionary military.

but have you seen the interviews and articles that describe their weapons as, like "one rifle and a few mags between an entire group"? they need to be armed, i wonder if that they are in turkey if they are working on that or what.

[David__77]

8. Well if Pol Pot could do it, maybe these people can.

They can set their goal high.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. Did they bring their tanks and helicopter gunships with them?

[FarCenter]

7. Baghdad Bob reappears as FSA spokesman?

"Staff Brigadier General Fayez Qaddur Amr, who left the Syrian regime a month ago and joined the defecting Syrian officers in Turkey, confirmed that six generals have recently arrived in Turkey and joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA) there, after defecting from the Syrian regime. He said: "I can confirm their defection and they are with me now. Two of them come from Latakia, one from the Golan Heights, one from Idlib, and another from Homs."

"Our men carry rifles against 120km-range Scud missiles, which the regime uses to target them in a tactical manner. "

"I swear on my military honor that there are no al-Qaeda elements in Syria. There are no al-Qaeda members among our groups, so let the West rest assured. Al-Qaeda was created by the Iranian regime, and the rumor of an al-Qaeda presence among us has only served the Syrian and Iranian regimes. Iran created al-Qaeda even in Somalia."

The "six generals" are never actually identified?

Scud missiles used for local bombardment? Not when mortars, howitzers, and tank gunnery as well as Katyusha type rockets will do.

And Sunni al-Qaeda is unrelated to Shiite Iran and Allawite Syrian governments. It is Saudi Arabian and Egyptian in origin!

[David__77]

9. There's some hardcore disinformation going on by the Salafists.

Some al Jazeera staff are very upset about being forced to be war propagandists. Insurgents have been seen planting false evidence over and over.

[tabatha]

11. Nonsense, as usual.

[tabatha]

13. See 12

[tabatha]

12. Responses

The "six generals" are never actually identified?
Because they are fearful for their families, etc.


Scud missiles used for local bombardment? Not when mortars, howitzers, and tank gunnery as well as Katyusha type rockets will do.
"Syria is known to possess Scud-B, Frog-7 and two hundred SS-21 (120km/480kg) missiles purchased from the Soviet Union."
Lieutenant Omar Al-Homsy from Farouk Battalion explaining the reasons for withdrawing and talking about how the Assad Army used Scud missiles in their attacks against Baba Amr.

And Sunni al-Qaeda is unrelated to Shiite Iran and Allawite Syrian governments. It is Saudi Arabian and Egyptian in origin!
Where was that stated? All that was stated was that Iran supported Al Qaeda in Iraq. It did.
"Al Qaeda and its affiliate, al Qaeda in Iraq, are among the terrorist groups supported by the MOIS, which is Iran's chief intelligence agency."
"A terrorist in Iraq linked to Al-Qaeda has also admitted that Iran is supporting Al-Qaeda with weapons and money, and says that he personally has dispatched terrorists to Iraq via Syria, also implicating that country (which is an ally of Iran)."

Check your claims first before posting.