"" "I never wanted to do this," he insisted in perfect English,
"but now I must." He pointed at the men around him. "He's an engineer. This
one's a mechanic. My two brothers are fighting now, because we have to defend
our district from the armed gangs." Nizar and his friends were given 40 days
training and handed weapons by the army. They are now counted among President
Assad's forces, defending their homes from rebels they believe to be
fundamentalists, fanatics and foreigners."" (thanks Amir)