The Leader's Speech 1984

The political and military leadership has embroiled party grass roots, the security forces, and the army, exactly as it has embroiled the entire population in unjustified internal confrontations. This leadership should assume responsibility for what happened. It should modify its approach and conduct. Every citizen should feel that there is no distinction between a Baathist and a non-Baathist, between a military and a civilian. The Baath should regain its popular character. The party, whose ideology includes codes of conduct pertaining to ethical and national life as well as to struggle, is the same party that should assume its responsibilities, restore its popular dimension, and rebuild links with the masses. By doing so, it can see things from a wide perspective, not just its own. The Baath Party cannot force people to restrict their vision of life to its own.

I do not fear the large crowds they brought from distant places and stealthily made them get close to Damascus … Had it not been for my love for Damascus and for this people, I would have shaken the ground beneath their feet. But as I am keen on preserving every drop of our brave people’s blood that is dear to my heart, I have decided to submit my resignation. I need to tell them from this spot that if they are loyal to this people, they should keep away from Damascus and choose the place where they will face each man and each group so that they understand who Rifaat Al-Assad is, and that those standing by him are the entire population.

The Arabs have offered funds and men in support of the battles fought by Syria. They have also fought in Syrian territories … Aren’t you satisfied with this? How could we have achieved victory without Arab blood and money? We are aware of the ideological disagreements between us and them, but we believe that our national, moral, and political positions compel us to overlook such disagreements. Yet, they insist on assaulting our Arab fellows and on offending them.