{"id":15950,"date":"2012-09-24T09:39:10","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T13:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=15950"},"modified":"2012-09-24T10:21:42","modified_gmt":"2012-09-24T14:21:42","slug":"why-manar-tlas-is-uniquely-qualified-to-serve-the-opposition-by-a-supporter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/why-manar-tlas-is-uniquely-qualified-to-serve-the-opposition-by-a-supporter\/","title":{"rendered":"“Why Manaf Tlas is Uniquely Qualified to Serve the Opposition,” by a Supporter"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Why Manaf Tlas is Uniquely Qualified to Serve the Opposition,”<\/strong> by a Supporter
\nFor Syria Comment, Sept 24, 2012<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0A letter from a supporter of Manaf Tlas<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has now been nearly three months since Manaf Tlas\u2019s defection. At the time, his flight from Syria was hailed as the most significant defection.<\/p>\n

Every defector has a past association with the regime he leaves. Manaf Tlas has been attacked by some in the opposition because he was part of the Asad regime. The Tlas family has been associated with this regime for decades.\u00a0 There is no question that the family benefited from their position. Manaf\u2019s father was the defense minister. His brother has been a high profile Businessman.\u00a0 Manaf himself served in the Republican Guards and has had a close personal relationship with Bashar al-Assad for most of his life. During the last three months, Manaf has tried to explain why that past makes him particularly qualified to serve the opposition today and why he has come out squarely against the regime that he was born into.<\/p>\n

For the first few weeks after his flight from Syria, Manaf disappeared from sight. Most suspected that he was in France. His first public communiqu\u00e9 was made on July 17th<\/sup><\/a>. On July 25th<\/sup>, he appeared<\/a> on Al Arabiya <\/a>Television Station.<\/p>\n

He was also briefly filmed attending Umra in Saudi Arabia, when he was interviewed by the Saudi-owned Ashraq alawsat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He also visited Qatar at this time, but the trip was not covered by the media. This left many with the impression that Manaf was Saudi\u2019s man. This view was mistaken. Indeed, Manaf was warmly welcomed by the Emir of Qatar in Doha on his trip there.<\/p>\n

Turkey, in particular, seems to believe in Manaf\u2019s potential. His trips to that country have reportedly helped cement a solid relationship over the past three months<\/p>\n

Lately, Mr. Tlas was interviewed by both David Ignatius of the Washington Post and BBC-Arabic where he gave his last public interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where does Manaf stand today?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Syrian opposition has been deeply divided. Mistrust and backstabbing have been widespread among opposition factions. No one from the opposition wants to hand leadership to another faction for the sake of unity. Manaf\u2019s background and close previous association with the regime makes it particularly difficult for him to quickly earn the trust of the majority in the opposition. The Islamists think he is too secular. The exiled opposition see him as an insider who was himself part of a regime that they have fought for too long. The pro-regime people, on the other hand, consider him a traitor and an opportunist. Manaf has been highly critical of the regime\u2019s leadership while he calls for unity and moderation when it comes to dealing with the institutions of the government.\u00a0\u00a0 He has often talked about a \u201croad map\u201d. His strategy builds on the following foundation:<\/p>\n

1-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No foreign intervention.<\/p>\n

2-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The need to reassure Alawites that they can split from the regime ruled by the Assad family without fear of retribution or marginalization in a new Syria.<\/p>\n

3-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The need for the various factions of the opposition and the FSA to unite and reconcile their differences (easier said than done).<\/p>\n

4-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The need to ensure that Syria does not lose its minorities and its historic cultural and religious mosaic.<\/p>\n

5-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The need to preserve institutions like the Syrian Army and to prevent an Iraq-like destruction of most Government institutions<\/p>\n

The above 5-point plan constitutes what he sees as a \u201csafety net\u201d that will preserve Syria in a post-Assad era.<\/p>\n

Will Manaf succeed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Syria\u2019s opposition needs a national leader desperately. It is important to note that by its very nature, the Syrian regime is constructed to prevent any such leaders from emerging. Indeed, to date, the opposition is struggling to unite behind a single person\/entity. Each faction sees this as its only chance. Manaf\u2019s military background is important in this chaotic environment. His secular credentials could attract a large following including the country\u2019s minorities.\u00a0 Alawites were heavily represented in the Republican Guard division that he led. Many reportedly respected and trusted him. This relationship is crucial, if the opposition is to convince Alawites to stop fighting.<\/p>\n

Manaf faces many formidable challenges. Many claim that Manaf cannot serve the opposition because he is a member of the Tlas family. His brother, Firas, was a prominent businessman whose success was due to his family\u2019s position. Those in Manaf\u2019s camp do not dispute this but point to the fact that the two brothers led two distinctly separate and independent lives. Surprisingly, there are many that still believe that Manaf\u2019s exit has been coordinated with the palace. This cannot be further from the truth.\u00a0 The final question in the BBC interview addressed this very point. Clearly, Manaf\u2019s response should put this issue to rest. Those close to him claim that as a military officer, dedicated to his troops and country with broad name recognition, Manaf is well placed to serve the opposition cause.<\/p>\n

Those that know Manaf doubt that we have seen the end of him. He has chosen a seemingly slow and deliberate path forward. His effort to promote unity and his five-point plan for ending the regime and bringing Syria out of civil war<\/p>\n

Manar Tlas’s interviews<\/strong><\/p>\n

First communiqu\u00e9<\/a><\/div>\n
Al Arabia statement<\/a>
\nDavid Ignatius’ opinion piece The Washington Post <\/a>Part of the BBC interview<\/a>from the BBC site 3 minutesPart of the BBC interview<\/a>posted by someone 16 minutesPart of the BBC interview<\/a> 12 minutes<\/div>\n

Syrian defector says opposition can win<\/a><\/p>\n

L’Express interview<\/a>: “Nous ne voulons pas \u00eatre lib\u00e9r\u00e9s par une intervention \u00e9trang\u00e8re”<\/p>\n

BFM interview Text<\/a> – French<\/p>\n

Extract of BFM interview video<\/a><\/p>\n

Al Jazeera chosen part<\/a> – Arabic<\/p>\n

Manaf’s argument that “”We must convince Alawites that they do not have to commit Suicide along with the regime,” <\/strong>is key to sparing Syria from a much longer and more brutal civil war. So long as Alawites believe that they must stand by Assad’s side in order to save themselves, they can and will destroy Syria.<\/p>\n

A Syrian defector\u2019s mission<\/a>
\nAugust 30, 2012 12:36 AM
\nBy David Ignatius in the Washington Post<\/p>\n

Syria\u2019s most prominent military defector says the key to political transition in the country is to provide a \u201csafety net\u201d that persuades Alawites they won\u2019t be massacred if they break with President Bashar Assad.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy main work is to convince the Alawites that they do not have to commit suicide along with the regime,\u201d said Manaf Tlass, a former general in the Syrian army who left the country in July. He spoke Tuesday at a location in France where he has taken refuge. It was his first in-depth interview since he broke with Assad, who was once his close friend.<\/p>\n

Tlass said that before there can be a political transition, there must first be a channel of trust between the opposition Free Syrian Army and reconcilable members of the military who are ready to break with Assad, much as Tlass did. Without such links, he said, Assad\u2019s overthrow would plunge the country into a period of anarchic violence and Syria\u2019s chemical weapons would be up for grabs.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, many Alawites are not happy with what\u2019s happening on the ground, but where is the safe zone for them?\u201d he said. \u201cAlawites need to know that there\u2019s a strong side that will guarantee their safety if they defect.\u201d Though Tlass is a Sunni Muslim, he commanded a unit of the Special Republican Guard, which is about 80-percent Alawite, the ethnic minority from which Assad and his inner circle are drawn.<\/p>\n

Tlass, 49, spoke movingly about his break from Assad, who, he said, has so bloodied his name that he will never be able to rule Syria effectively again. It began in the spring of 2011, when protests were spreading and Tlass offered to meet with demonstrators. He told Assad about an April 2011 meeting in Darayya with young rebels, whose fathers were silent but obviously proud. \u201cThis is the revolution of the fathers through their children,\u201d Tlass warned, noting that such a conflict would be impossible to win by force.<\/p>\n

Assad was a changeable, uncertain man, increasingly swayed by the harder line of his family, especially his brother Maher and his cousin Hafez Makhlouf, who heads the internal branch of Syrian intelligence. \u201cIf you impose power, people will be afraid, and they will step back,\u201d Makhlouf admonished Tlass.<\/p>\n

Tlass says that by May 2011, his counsel of outreach was ignored and his contacts were being arrested after he met them. This was the case even in Rastan, a town in central Syria where his father was born. After Tlass tried to make peace there, he was scolded by Makhlouf. Tlass stopped commanding his army unit after that.<\/p>\n

The rupture came in July 2011, when Assad summoned him and asked why he wasn\u2019t leading his troops. Tlass said he responded that the president and his men weren\u2019t sincere about compromise. \u201cYou are making me a liar. You and Syria are committing suicide,\u201d he recalls saying. Assad responded that such counsel was \u201ctoo simple,\u201d and that he was moving to the \u201csecurity option.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are carrying a heavy load \u2013 and if you want to fly, you have to drop that load,\u201d Tlass says he told Assad at that last meeting. \u201cBut it seems the heavy load \u2013 the family, the inner circle \u2013 has won.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tlass says he thought at first that he could stay in Damascus, in silent opposition to the hard-liners\u2019 policies. But as the violence increased to countrywide slaughter, he says, \u201cmy conscience could not bear it anymore.\u201d He began thinking about how to flee by the end of last year.<\/p>\n

The former general still has the rugged good looks that made him a charismatic military leader, which has led some to speculate that he might play a role in a Syrian transition. But Tlass says he doesn\u2019t want any position in a future government, and is focused only on his \u201croad map\u201d for avoiding sectarian strife. He\u2019s probably wise to disavow political ambition, as his wealth, secular lifestyle and prominent background (his father was defense minister) make him a target for a populist, Islamist opposition movement.<\/p>\n

I first met Tlass a half-dozen years ago in Damascus, which may be one reason he decided to break his silence and give the interview. When I asked him what he would say to Assad if he could send him one more message, he was overcome by emotion for a moment and left the room. When he returned, he said: \u201cHow can anyone think he is protecting his country when his air force and tanks are hitting his own territory?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

AP, Monday September 10 2012, GREG KELLER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Associated Press= BEIRUT (AP) \u2014 Syria’s most prominent defector said in an interview that aired Monday that he opposes any foreign military intervention in the country’s civil war and that he is confident the opposition can topple President Bashar Assad’s regime.<\/p>\n

But Manaf Tlass, a Syrian general who was the first member of Assad’s inner circle to join the opposition, said the rebels need weapons.<\/p>\n

“The Syrian people must not be robbed of their victory, they must be given support, aid, arms,” Tlass said in a recorded interview that aired Monday on French television station BFM.<\/p>\n

He called on outside powers to give the opposition “all the aid and support” needed to topple Assad.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Why Manaf Tlas is Uniquely Qualified to Serve the Opposition,” by a Supporter For Syria Comment, Sept 24, 2012 \u00a0A letter from a supporter of Manaf Tlas It has now been nearly three months since Manaf Tlas\u2019s defection. At the time, his flight from Syria was hailed as the most significant defection. Every defector has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opposition","category-syria-revolution-2011"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n"Why Manaf Tlas is Uniquely Qualified to Serve the Opposition," by a Supporter - Syria Comment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/why-manar-tlas-is-uniquely-qualified-to-serve-the-opposition-by-a-supporter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\""Why Manaf Tlas is Uniquely Qualified to Serve the Opposition," by a Supporter - Syria Comment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"“Why Manaf Tlas is Uniquely Qualified to Serve the Opposition,” by a Supporter For Syria Comment, Sept 24, 2012 \u00a0A letter from a supporter of Manaf Tlas It has now been nearly three months since Manaf Tlas\u2019s defection. 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