Bassel al-Assad: Difference between revisions
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==Villainy== | ==Villainy== | ||
'' | Although Assad had studied mechanical engineering, he chose a military career. He was commissioned in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces Special Forces] and later switched to the armoured corps after training in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_academies_in_Russia Soviet Military Academies]. He rapidly became a major and then commander of a battallion in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Guard_%28Syria%29 Republican Guard].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-me95_1-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-me95-1 [1]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-inq96_4-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-inq96-4 [4]]</sup> He was also appointed head of presidential security.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bou22jan_5-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-bou22jan-5 [5]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alex2012july_6-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-alex2012july-6 [6]]</sup> In addition, he launched the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Computer_Society Syrian Computer Society] in 1989, which later headed by his brother Bashar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alt1998_7-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-alt1998-7 [7]]</sup> | ||
From a young age, Bassel Assad was groomed to succeed his father, President [[Hafez Al - Assad|Hafez Assad]].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-jas7fall_8-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-jas7fall-8 [8]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hem_9-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-hem-9 [9]]</sup> After Hafez Assad recovered from a serious illness in 1984, Bassel began to accompany his father in his visits.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Zahler2009_10-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-Zahler2009-10 [10]]</sup> | |||
Bassel Assad organized a highly publicized anti-corruption campaign within the regime, and frequently appeared in full military uniform at official receptions, signaling the regime's commitment to the armed forces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nyt_11-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-nyt-11 [11]]</sup> He was also head of Syria's computer association.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-inq96_4-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-inq96-4 [4]]</sup> In 1988, regarding his relations with his father he told [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Seale Patrick Seale] "we saw father at home but he was so busy that three days could go by without us exchanging a word with him. We never had breakfast or dinner together, and I don't remember ever having lunch together as a family, or maybe we only did once or twice when state affairs were involved. As a family, we used to spend a day or two in Lattakia in the summer, but then too he used to work in the office and we didn't get to see much of him."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-meast11june_12-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-meast11june-12 [12]]</sup> | |||
Since his last [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election election] victory in 1991, President Hafez Assad was publicly referred to as “Abu Basil” (Father of Bassel).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cook96dec_13-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-cook96dec-13 [13]]</sup> The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baath_Party_%28Syria%29 Baath Party] press in Syria long ago [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eulogy eulogised] Bassel Assad as “the golden knight” due to his prowess in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsemanship horsemanship].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ti94_14-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-ti94-14 [14]]</sup> He first emerged on the national scene in 1987, when he won several [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrianism equestrian] medals at a regional tournament.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-inq96_4-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-inq96-4 [4]]</sup> He also had a reputation for his interest in fast cars.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-nyt_11-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-nyt-11 [11]]</sup> It was said by officials in Damascus that Bassel Assad was uncorrupted and honest.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ti94_14-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-ti94-14 [14]]</sup> His friends and teachers describe Bassel as charismatic and commanding.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bennet_15-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-bennet-15 [15]]</sup> | |||
He was being introduced to European and Arab leaders at that period, and he was a close friend of the children of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Hussein_of_Jordan King Hussein of Jordan]. He had been also introduced to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Fahd King Fahd] and then [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_people Lebanese] leaders of all sects.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ti94_14-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_al-Assad#cite_note-ti94-14 [14]]</sup> Assad had a significant role in Lebanese affairs. | |||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
Revision as of 18:25, 14 June 2013
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Bassel al-Assad (Arabic: باسل الأسد, Bāssel al Assad) (March 23, 1962 – January 21, 1994) was the eldest son of Hafez al-Assad and the older brother of Bashar al-Assad.
Villainy
Although Assad had studied mechanical engineering, he chose a military career. He was commissioned in the Special Forces and later switched to the armoured corps after training in the Soviet Military Academies. He rapidly became a major and then commander of a battallion in the Republican Guard.[1][4] He was also appointed head of presidential security.[5][6] In addition, he launched the Syrian Computer Society in 1989, which later headed by his brother Bashar.[7]
From a young age, Bassel Assad was groomed to succeed his father, President Hafez Assad.[8][9] After Hafez Assad recovered from a serious illness in 1984, Bassel began to accompany his father in his visits.[10]
Bassel Assad organized a highly publicized anti-corruption campaign within the regime, and frequently appeared in full military uniform at official receptions, signaling the regime's commitment to the armed forces.[11] He was also head of Syria's computer association.[4] In 1988, regarding his relations with his father he told Patrick Seale "we saw father at home but he was so busy that three days could go by without us exchanging a word with him. We never had breakfast or dinner together, and I don't remember ever having lunch together as a family, or maybe we only did once or twice when state affairs were involved. As a family, we used to spend a day or two in Lattakia in the summer, but then too he used to work in the office and we didn't get to see much of him."[12]
Since his last election victory in 1991, President Hafez Assad was publicly referred to as “Abu Basil” (Father of Bassel).[13] The Baath Party press in Syria long ago eulogised Bassel Assad as “the golden knight” due to his prowess in horsemanship.[14] He first emerged on the national scene in 1987, when he won several equestrian medals at a regional tournament.[4] He also had a reputation for his interest in fast cars.[11] It was said by officials in Damascus that Bassel Assad was uncorrupted and honest.[14] His friends and teachers describe Bassel as charismatic and commanding.[15]
He was being introduced to European and Arab leaders at that period, and he was a close friend of the children of King Hussein of Jordan. He had been also introduced to King Fahd and then Lebanese leaders of all sects.[14] Assad had a significant role in Lebanese affairs.
Death
On January 21, 1994, driving his Mercedes at high speed through fog to Damascus International Airport for a flight to Germany in the early hours of the morning, al-Assad is said to have collided with a motorway roundabout without wearing a seatbelt, and he died instantly. It was reported that his cousin Hafez Makhlouf was with him and hospitalized with injuries after the accident. al-Assad's body was taken to al-Assad University Hospital.