Syrian Government Rocked, “In Bad Condition”, After Weekend Assassination Of Assad’s Right Hand Man
Damascus official tells London-based newspaper ‘mystery man’ assassinated over weekend was in charge of all of country’s sensitive security issues. “Only he, knew everything.”
Published: 08.04.08, 12:49 / Israel News
Mohammed Suleiman was stronger than Syria’s defense minister, a Syrian source said Monday of the assassinated officer who was considered President Bashar Assad’s right hand.
The source told the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat that “there is no doubt the Syrian regime in a bad and complicated condition.”
Suleiman, who held a rank similar to that of brigadier-general, was shot dead by a sniper in the Syrian port city of Tartous. The assassination of the officer who operated on the Syrian-Lebanese arena was barely reported by Arab media.
According to the source, before becoming the president’s “mystery man”, Suleiman was very close to Bashar Assad’s brother, Bassel, who was slated to become Syria’s president but was killed in a road accident in 1994.
Suleiman, a member of the Alawites sect, was responsible for all of Syria’s sensitive security issues, and every such issue would be run through him before reaching Assad’s bureau.
The Syrian source ruled out the possibility that Suleiman was assassinated on the backdrop of political aspirations, due to the fact that he had more strength than any other politician.
According to the source, Suleiman was responsible for more issues than the Syrian defense minister and army chief. Various reports have claimed that Suleiman was in charge of the Syrian nuclear program.
‘He knew everything’
“There is no doubt that the Syrian regime is in a bad and complex situation. There is no doubt that Muhammed Suleiman was one of the closest people to President Bashar Assad and his right hand in the armed forces.
“He knew everything, and all issues were open to him, including the security, economic and armament issues,” the source stated.
“Suleiman’s status exceeded his military rank, and therefore he had no political aspirations. His status was even more important than that of the defense minister.
“In the meantime, however, it is hard to determine the reasons behind the assassination. We must wait three or four more days for things to become clear, particularly when we are talking about an accurate assassination which was carried out by a sniper firing from the sea.”
The Syrian source did not say whether Suleiman, who was in his 40s, had direct ties to Hizbullah.
“He was responsible for all the issues related to the armed forces and the Baath party (the Syrian ruling party). All the reports regarding the Baath party released by the Syrian army went through his office and were presented to Assad by him,” the source noted.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
One can only hope it was Mossad or US special forces. I think ASSad, the chinless wonder, should consider this a warning!
August 4th, 2008 at 7:15 amIf I was writing a book about misdirection, I would probably point the finger at Iran. Syria is not cooperating as much as it had been in the past. Iran knows we are wrapping things up in Iraq and although Afghanistan is going to get our attention next (again), they know that we will win there too. So what does Iran do when there are FULLY WORKING, US friendly governments on their borders? I would imagine they would want continue fighting by proxy and the best way for that is to expand what they have in Lebanon. The problem is Lebanon is realatively small and with the knowledge of the last 7 years, the US military is a grave threat. If for some reason we were forced to go into Lebanon (possibly to help Isreal), we would crush Iran’s proxies there. Iran would need a larger land mass to hide in and with this assassination I think Iran may have just gotten a firmer grip on Syria. So, if I am correct, the people of Syria may be in an even bigger world of crap than they are now with Iran pulling their governments strings.
… Or I may be way off on this.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:36 amIsaiah 17:1
An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city
but will become a heap of ruins.
Damascus has been inhabited for 7,500 years - more misery to come for Assad!
August 4th, 2008 at 7:40 amI think you might be on to something. Might also be why Arab media didn’t report it. If they thought it was Mossad or US special forces they would have been quick to jump on it. At least I would think anyway.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:34 amWith the Syrians and the Persians, Macchiavelli is a kindergarten primer.
A message to Ass-odd or political in-fighting?
Given the latest gains by Hizballah in Lebanon, that’s a bit of a stretch, and besides, explosives are more their style, not precision sniping….ask Rafik Hariri.
A surgical strike like that has “The West” written all over it. If they suspected the Mossad or US SpecOps, what are the odds they’d ADMIT to the whole world that we got their #2 until AFTER they’d come up with a plausible story? There’s also the point that they’d have to prove it - at least to themselves - before they could say it really WAS us.
I’d bet an MRE to a moldy falafel they’re burnin’ midnight oil comin’ up with a way to spin this sucker.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:12 pm