Inquiry and Analysis Series - No. 99 June 27, 2002 No.99 The Damascus Blood Libel (1840) as Told by Syria's Minister of Defense, Mustafa Tlass Background Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad recently extended the term of Defense Minister Field Marshal Mustafa Tlass for another two years beyond mandatory retirement age, in appreciation of his service and his close connection with his father, former president Hafez Al-Assad. Tlass is one of the founding fathers of Syria's current Ba'ath regime and has been a key figure in Syria for the past 30 years. Hafez Assad himself had already postponed Tlass's retirement once.[1]Tlaas...