Posted on 03/17/2005 11:57:41 AM PST by llevrok
Agreed.
Agh. What's worse, is that World Tribune is using the same source that originated the rumor that I debunked.
I just can't believe that the World Tribune posted this without checking on it. They even admitted that there was no confirmation, and went further to say that there were no troops movements reports.
I debunked it already but... this is just sloppy journalism. The only sourcfe they used was the same one that was debunked for propogating the rumors.
Well, the good news is that where ever Assad might be, Damascus, Aleppo, Cairo or Saudi, the brave folks from Reuters will keep the Mossad and IDF "teams" well informed, for a price, of course. I believe we can also thank the Reuters field staff for keeping tabs on most of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. So, if there is a crisis the "fees" paid to the Reuters' "reporters" and "journalists" will be well worth it!
OPPOSITION REPORTS COUP IN DAMASCUS
NICOSIA [MENL] -- The regime of President Bashar Assad, said to have fled Damascus, has come under severe strain amid its military redeployment in Lebanon.
Lebanese opposition sources said the Assad regime has been divided over the decision to withdraw thousands of troops from Lebanon. The sources said some elements of the military have refused to follow orders for the pullout of troops as well as intelligence agents from both central Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
Syria's military was said to have increased deployment around Damascus amid tension within the regime. Opposition sources said the Syrian military has undergone a split, with a rebel faction having taken control over parts of the capital.
The rebel faction was said to be led by Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan and Firas Tlas, the son of former Defense Minister Mustapha Tlas. The sources said this group, which included Syrian intelligence chief in Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Rustom Ghazaleh and Maj. Gen. Ali Madi, has rebelled against Assad's decision to withdraw from Lebanon.
I looked at this one a bit more, and it appears to be an echo of the original bogus report of a coup attempt.
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