Call to Defend Syria and National Duty

That is why none of us should defend

our village or our governorate.

Either we defend Syria or we do not.

In that case, we have no homeland.

As you came in,

we heard chants expressing

joy, and we heard

prayers, and we heard thanks.

But in truth, those who deserve this thanks are the Armed

Forces, without whom it would not only be

that the abductees

would not have returned.

The entire homeland,

with everything and everyone in it,

would have been

abducted, and later,

the homeland would have been killed.

This army that defended us today is defending,

in the eastern regions, toward Abu al- Safa.

It is owed a great debt by all of us as Syrians.

Every person who

evaded military service

and evaded serving the homeland.

Every person who evaded serving the homeland.

Bears guilt for every abductee and

every innocent martyr who was lost.

Every person who evaded military

service bears responsibility.

And you, the sons of Suwayda, in particular.

When you say you are the sons and

grandsons of Sultan Pasha al- Atrash.

When duty called Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, did he run away?

He had no weapon. What

weapons were there at

that time against the

occupying French?

There was nothing. He went to defend. Most importantly,

he was appointed commander

of the Great Syrian Revolt.

There were leaders in different regions.

Why did they accept him? Because

he carried the national flag.

He did not carry the flag of the mountain,

his village, or his family.

So when someone joins the army for

free to protect the national flag.

None of us should defend only

our village or our governorate.

Either we defend Syria or we don't.

Otherwise, we have no homeland.

Anyone who wants to talk

about honorable women and

honor must go down to a field

where he can speak.

We mustn't sit on phones and

computers making strategic plans

and defend our homeland on a computer screen.

That's not what's difficult.

There is one field, one place,

where he can prove his manhood,

heroism and courage,

honor and patriotism: the armed forces.

This is all our mission.