Following are excerpts from an interview with pro-Bashar Addas Syrian tribal leader Ahmad Al-Shlash, which aired on Al-Dunya TV on May 2, 2012.
Interviewer: "Let's see where the protests in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are leading us."
Ahmad Al-Shlash: "To the overthrowing of the regime, Allah willing. The youth want to do this. I hereby demand that we finance them and send them weapons, because they are defenseless, facing the rifles of the Wahhabi regime with their bare chests."
Interviewer: "You will be accused of terrorism."
Ahmad Al-Shlash: "No, they are not terrorists. They are freedom fighters. There is a difference between terrorists and freedom fighters, who have been [using] peaceful means until now.
"Since they have been peaceful until now, and are taking bullets to their bare chests, I call upon the Syrian people to finance them, to arm them, to direct the spotlight on them, and to focus attention on them via the Internet. Our young people should contact them via the Internet. Our electronic Syrian arm should contact them. Don't neglect these young men, in [Bahrain], in [Saudi Arabia], and in Qatar – because, Allah willing, Qatar is next.
"Those young [Saudis] are living in a country that is ruled by the 'rod.' They don't want to be ruled like sheep. They are demanding a few liberties… There is no constitution there, I'm sad to say, no state, no nothing. This group of people is ruling a country as if Allah gave it to them. Allah willing, it will lead to the establishment of the Arab Republic of Saudi Arabia. […]
"I would like to make a request that will not be hard for Allah to fulfill. I hope that our army, the defenders of the homeland, and that my president, may Allah grant him long life, will fulfill a single request: If, one of these days, the Turks carry out some operation – launch a few missiles at Qatar, for the sake of Allah." […]
