OPINION_ Heroism in Syria, Fiddling in Washington - Forbes

Mary Claire Kendall Contributor
I write about Hollywood legends and real life.

OP/ED
1/16/2014 @ 11:34PM |107 views


Heroism in Syria, Fiddling in Washington


Two Swedish journalists abducted in late November by a group of bandits in the Qalamoun Mountains of war-torn Syria, are now free. Swedish authorities were mum on who abducted them or how they were set free.

Here’s the story, rivaling classic tales of escape Hollywood loves to tell.

While President Barack Obama fiddled in Washington, retired Major General Paul Vallely, former deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army in the Pacific and West Point grad, and his team, got to work. Vallely of “Stand Up America” is not one to stand by idly while Rome burns.

Stand Up America’s “Syrian Opposition Liaison Group” (SOLG) played a direct role in the release of the two journalists—Niclas Hammarstrom and Magnus Falkehed—both of whom were in reasonably good health when freed, Hammarstrom suffering a gunshot wound to his leg earlier in the ordeal when attempting to escape.

The Free Syrian Army (FSA), working at the behest of SOLG, located the captives in just three days, after which Vallely’s group immediately notified Swedish authorities through secure channels. It was a complex task given realities on the ground—extremist organizations swarming all around, in addition to local bandits like the ones who captured the Swedes, seeking to discredit and decimate the FSA.

The bandit kidnappers included three from the villages Arsal al Ward and Rankous in addition to two drug dealers, one from Tfeil and another Rankous by the name of Amjad Hammoud, and a woman known as “N,” originally from Damascus, posing as a Lebanese journalist, relative of Amjad Hammoud and activist in the Syrian Revolution, who in reality, working in tandem with Hammoud, would lure journalists inside Syria and trap them. Their whole game was to try and tarnish the name of the Rebellion while making money.

Now came the tough part—rescuing the captives.

FSA offered to storm the location and set the captives free, an option Swedish authorities rejected, fearing for the lives of the journalists. So, they devised a scheme of harassing and coercing the captors to secure the journalists’ release, ultimately achieved by the FSA under the command of Assad el Khatib in the Qalamoun region, Abu Malek from the Nusra Front, and FSA Captain Firas Bitar—without receiving any collateral. Instead, they rescued them as a gesture of goodwill to the Swedish Government for providing tremendous help in the past securing refuge for Syrians fleeing the war zone.

Many aided the process, pressuring local forces in the region to force the captors to release them—including Mr. Jihad Khaddam, son of the former Syrian Vice President, and Abdel Halim Khaddam, along with a Member of Parliament from Lebanon, Mr. Okab Saqr. On the ground, Mr. Assad el Khatib, chief of Liwaa Al Qadisyia (Qadisya Brigade), was the main negotiating authority—no mean feat, given the difficult-to-follow track on the ground.

Abu Malek, Chief of the Nusra Front in the Qalamoun Mountains, triggered the tipping point by issuing a threat of force, and concomitant severe consequences, on the captors if they did not set the journalists free. Additionally, the efforts and energy expended by FSA Captain Firas Bitar were key.

Last but not least, the Syrian Opposition Liaison Group, stepping in to fill the American leadership void, led the negotiations secretly between the Swedish authorities, the Sweden Police, and the Free Syrian Army command on the ground.

Col. Nagi N. Najjar, special adviser to Major General Vallely and manager of SOLG, conducted the negotiations process discreetly, supported by his point of contact on the ground, Mr. Musa Nabhan, representing FSA. Col. Najjar, who manages SOLG, is the liaison officer for FSA Commander-in-Chief, Colonel Riad El Asaad, in the US and UK and, for two years, has headed up the operation monitoring the humanitarian, political and security situation in Syria. Major General Vallely was briefed by the SOLG at all times throughout the negotiation progress leading to the Swedes’ release.

The bigger picture, of course, is the ongoing Civil War in Syria. Truly Rome is burning.

As Col. Najjar wrote to General Vallely recently, FSA will “chop Al Qaeda (AQ) off, they understand their tactics and language…” But, he continued, “they need help… this is the time.” As the UK Independent reported January 10, it’s now “Syria’s three-way war: Free Syrian Army rebels fight(ing) the regime and, now, the Islamists.”

Col Najjar continued: “I need logistical support from the Pentagon for these guys fighting under fire against Al Qaeda (AQ)… FSA might lose and the extremists will prevail at the end… Something needs to be done… and urgently… this fight is no joke down there, 500 dead in one week… and AQ is promising a bloody revenge.”

Right now, it’s General Vallely and SOLG and the FSA. Will Obama stop fiddling and come to the aid of our friends?

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/maryclairekendall/2014/01/16/heroism-in-syria-fiddling-in-washington/



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