Aug 12 - Al-Assad's inner circle, mostly family, like 'mafia'

From Jill Dougherty, CNN

Syrian Prime Minister Ryad Hijab defected this week, joining the list of several other high-level members of the Syrian regime who have abandoned President Bashar al-Assad as he struggles to maintain his grip on power.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Hijab's actions are another sign that al-Assad will fall.

"I'm not going to put a timeline on it," she said. "I can't possibly predict it, but I know it's going to happen as does most observers around the world."

But the prime minister is the head of the government, and the government does not rule the country. The real power in Syria is held by the true "insiders," al-Assad's blood relatives.

Maher Al-Assad – Al-Assad's youngest brother and rumored to be Syria's second-most powerful man. He is head of the elite, rabidly loyal Republican Guard and the 4th Armored Division.

Namir Al-Assad – The president's cousin who is one of the top leaders of the Shabiha, the mercenary force used to suppress the opposition.

Rami Makhlouf – The money behind the regime, al-Assad's first cousin is believed to be the richest person in Syria. He allegedly funds the regime's violent battle against protesters and rebels who are seeking to oust the president.

Ali Mamlouk – As the head of national security, Mamlouk had U.S. sanctions leveled against him for human rights abuses and violence against civilians. Almost all members of al-Assad's inner circle are Alawites, a minority Muslim group. Alawites make up less than 15% of the population. Three-quarters of Syrians are Sunni Muslims.

Most of those who have defected are Sunni, including the prime minister.

In July, one of Syria's most senior diplomats, Nawaf al-Fares, defected, publicly embraced his country's uprising and called for a foreign military intervention. Al-Fares was Syria's ambassador to Iraq.

Manaf Tlas, a Sunni general in Syria's elite Republican Guards, also defected last month. Tlas is the son of a former defense minister and a cousin of a first lieutenant in al-Assad's army.

Syria expert Hussein Ibish said al-Assad's inner circle has only one message for its fellow Syrians. " 'It's us or the abyss,' " Ibish said. " 'Stick with us or you will be massacred in your beds.' "

The regime operates like an organized crime syndicate, he said.

"So it isn't possible to reform because what you would have to do to reform," Ibish said, "is start dismantling a mafia operation, a set of rackets, a set of interrelated criminal enterprises."

Al-Assad's inner circle, mostly family, like 'mafia' – CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs

Syria taking to long to fall. they need him to fall so they can checkmate Iran. Been said this !! all year. they took out the pawns, Next will be Syria then checkmate with Iran.

If we touch Iran, China will touch us back [pic]

I think he meant the people will rebel, not us.

A little of both. People know what's going on America using the Divide and conquer strategy but playing it off chaos. They having a little trouble though. When those tanks try to roll up on Iran.

Shyts going to get real pretty quick and America will catch a reality check. Overthrow the biggest oil supply over in the East will cripple china russia etc... We'll see though.


But thats just my opinion.

I think the real question is 'Who helps in the dismantling of the Syrian Govt.? from the Pewforum.org site So that tells me that we SHOULDNT see too much involvement of Iran in the reconstructing of the Syrian Govt BUT Should America be involved in the rebuilding of this govt.? I say yes because irregardless of what we think of our military we have an obligation to be as[..]ertive as possible in what America expects from other nations with regard to their Foreign Policy. I have a family friend over in Iraq (the Kurd controlled North) and he says Turkey will be a partner in the reconstruction but Turkey has a groundswell of hate towards Americans so will that create an issue with the USA being involved with the reconstruction? !! is crazy but what the !! do I know......

I need a lesson in Middle East who's who because I have not a !!ing clue. Read today that the Shiites rule Iran and I was sure it was the Sunnis [pic]