In Syria, Motorists Press On, Yielding For War -- New York Times
NORTH OF DAMASCUS, Syria — Along the road that winds over Mount Qasioun on the way out of Damascus, concrete archways lead to gated military bases, and sentry posts perch atop the slopes and rises of the dry, scrabbly hills. From behind sand berms at army checkpoints, tanks point their heavy guns into traffic.
Driving out of Damascus, the Syrian capital, toward the city of Homs about 100 miles to the north, it is easy to see why rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad have been unable to advance toward the capital from the north and west. The mountains and open plains here are thick with defenses built over the 40 years of Assad family rule to protect the center of power.
But as the highway continues between two mountain ridges and reaches a flatter stretch south of Homs near the Lebanese border, this crucial corridor of government control becomes more fragile, crossed by rebel supply and recruitment routes, and war feels closer.
Read more ....
My Comment: David Axe describes the road trip that he took in Syria last year .... the link is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment