From Mick: "Clearly the NYTimes has a problem with Arabic. Even their supposed Arab speakers are idiots. This paragraph:
General Ishaq was given the honorary rank of lieutenant general after his death, General Jabber said. The only living Syrian to hold that rank is President Assad, who is also the general commander of the armed forces. Lieutenant general is the highest rank in the Syrian Army because it was the rank of Mr. Assad’s father and predecessor as president, Hafez, and no one can outrank him, General Jabber said.
Is so bad, it just makes me want to scream.
Now for the reality of ranks. My computer doesn't like Arab script, so I apologize....
Maj. General (Liwa')(2 stars in the U.S.) Ishaq was killed and promoted to Lt Gen. ('Imad)(3 stars in the U.S.). The same thing happened to the Security Maj General in Dayr Az Zawr. He was posthumously promoted to Liwa' (Lt General). Life went on.
The Defense Minister (Fahd Furayj) and the Chief of Staff ('Ali 'Ayyub) both hold the rank of 'Imad (Lt General). A simple search in Arabic or even just going to SANA and looking at who is the government will tell you that.
Bashar Al Asad is a Fariq (General-4 stars)
So the flag officer ranks are:
'Amiid = Brigadier General = 1 Star
Liwa' = Major General = 2 Stars
'Imad = Lt General = 3 Stars
Fariiq = General = 4 Stars
The Syrian government falls in line with a normal rank structure. If anyone bothered to read or google, they would know that. "
General Ishaq was given the honorary rank of lieutenant general after his death, General Jabber said. The only living Syrian to hold that rank is President Assad, who is also the general commander of the armed forces. Lieutenant general is the highest rank in the Syrian Army because it was the rank of Mr. Assad’s father and predecessor as president, Hafez, and no one can outrank him, General Jabber said.
Is so bad, it just makes me want to scream.
Now for the reality of ranks. My computer doesn't like Arab script, so I apologize....
Maj. General (Liwa')(2 stars in the U.S.) Ishaq was killed and promoted to Lt Gen. ('Imad)(3 stars in the U.S.). The same thing happened to the Security Maj General in Dayr Az Zawr. He was posthumously promoted to Liwa' (Lt General). Life went on.
The Defense Minister (Fahd Furayj) and the Chief of Staff ('Ali 'Ayyub) both hold the rank of 'Imad (Lt General). A simple search in Arabic or even just going to SANA and looking at who is the government will tell you that.
Bashar Al Asad is a Fariq (General-4 stars)
So the flag officer ranks are:
'Amiid = Brigadier General = 1 Star
Liwa' = Major General = 2 Stars
'Imad = Lt General = 3 Stars
Fariiq = General = 4 Stars
The Syrian government falls in line with a normal rank structure. If anyone bothered to read or google, they would know that. "
