‘Syrian opposition days are numbered’
Press TV has conducted an interview with Michael Maloof, former Pentagon official, about the Syrian army capturing a key town near the Lebanese border from foreign-sponsored militants fighting against the government.
- A lot of people are now seeing these advances, Mr. Maloof, made by the Syrian troops as a major gain because they are saying Syria is getting closer to the aim of closing the Lebanon border to the militants.
Do you see this as a strategic achievement for Syria and is it going to affect the government’s position especially in the upcoming talks in Geneva?
- There is a very strategic development. It does bolster the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Also the key is going to be the hold of the presence there because what has effectively occurred is the cutting off the supply lines for the foreign fighters from Lebanon and also from Turkey for that matter.
This is very, very important and also helps to secure Damascus itself. But the key is going to be the counter insurgency initiatives to maintain and hold that area for as long as possible and not once you take it over and then leave. It has got to be maintained and the troops have got to stay there in order to ensure that the rebels no longer have the ability to acquire the supplies that they require and it cuts off supplies also to the rebels within Syria near Damascus and that is very, very important.
- So basically a lot of people have been saying, the question was how strong can we see now the Syrian government versus the insurgents, they are saying that because of the infighting that we are saying among the insurgents because of these kind of advances, that some are even going as far as saying that the insurgency is near its end, though that is not you know something that a lot of people would agree on. What is your idea?
- Well, my idea is that the insurgency is on the ropes in many respects, especially among the opposition. The concern will remain the foreign fighters. If Saudi Arabia is successful in developing the Islamic front by pulling together 75,000 fighters, foreign fighters as they have threatened to do, that then poses an additional problem.
I do not see any enthusiasm by the United States right now in supporting that but I think the United States sees that the opposition is completely infiltrated by these radical fighters and that you really cannot distinguish them even though they have changed their names, they talk about moderates, it is not just the case.
And I think that the al-Assad regime has got to remain strong and stay focused the way that they are and notwithstanding the fact that the Saudis are desperately trying to finance and continue to equip the fighters. But for the most part, the foreign fighters are feeling, particularly the opposition is feeling that the days may be numbered.