Syria: senior Assad general defects to rebels

[bemildred]

Source: Telegraph.UK

The desertion of Brig Manaf Tlas, a senior commander in the elite Republican Guard, dealt a humiliating personal blow to President Bashar al-Assad and represented a major scalp for the opposition.

Brig Tlas was once a close confidante of the president, serving as a member of Mr Assad's small inner circle and the central committee of the Syria's Ba'ath Party.

A pro-government website with links to the Syrian security services confirmed the defection, saying that Brig Tlas had fled to Turkey but played down the impact of the development.

---

But the brigadier's defection would have reverberated across Syria because of the pedigree of his family name. Opposition sources claim 15 brigadiers have joined rebels camped near the border in recent months

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9379856/Syria-senior-Assad-general-defects-to-rebels.html

[maddezmom]

1. I'm thinking he sees the writing on the wall

and doesn't want to be on the wrong side when the shit hits the fan.

[DallasNE]

2. This Is Great News

And a continuation of something that has been quietly happening in Syria. Moves like this saves lives as it undermines the Syrian forces and is another example of Hillary Clinton working her magic. Results, after all, is what matters.