Perhaps I have a good hunch. . .perhaps I don't, but I would be interesting to know just how active our own eyes and ears in Syria are to be able to get-out-and-about to collect information critical to understanding the situation?

However, Misha'l's readiness to leave Damascus for elsewhere is telling, since he would know better than I, if the situation in Syria is getting worse than better. . .Misha’l also understands Bashar al-Asad will not step down, because to do so would mean the end of power for the Alawites, and they will back al-Asad until the end, and therefore events will get worse before they get better.

Incidentally, in Damascus, the Little Gate guards the southernmost approaches to the Old City, and in classical times, it was dedicated to Mars, the god of war. It would seem Mars has been smiling as of late in the region, along with death holding high carnival.

Friday's question: what gate did T.E. Lawrence enter the city first upon capturing it from the Ottomans? Or. . .was it elements of the Australian Light Horse who actually entered first? : )

Toujours Fidele

Well, I do know it was the 4th Aussie Light Horse that first entered Damascus but I am clueless as to what gate they chose? If ever a people deserved this honor it has to be those mounted Australian diggers many of whom were actually not form the outback but recent English immigrant city folk from Melbourne.

It was those glory seeking Aussies, mate. Much to the chagrin of Lawrence hizzelf.

Lawrence uh? Personal friend of yours Gold Star Father? That is El Aurens if you please! : )

For JPWREL: I believe it was the 3rd Light Horse Regiment followed by the other three, with T.E. Lawrence and his Bedouin rabble arriving a few hours later.

Incidentally, besides Damascus airport facilitating Iranian transports bringing tools of the trade in for Hizbollah to ferry back into southern Lebanon, the town of Adra, about an hour's drive out of Damascus, serves as a training area for the Syrian Army, and my bet, a further training ground for Hizbollah to learn to handle missle systems (there's a SCUD storage facility near there).

My further bet is Hizbollah is moving. . .or has already moved out, anything belonging to them, and if al-Asad and his Ba'ath Party fall at some point, we'll see some very dangerous hardware falling into some bad actors hands, ala Libya.

Well TYRTAIOS you threw that challenge right at my feet! I introduce form my copy of ‘The Australians in Nine Wars – Waikato to Long Tan’ by Peter Firkins. On page 153 he writes: ‘The 5th Light Horse entered Damascus at 5:00am on October 1, 1918, closely followed by other units of the 3rd Brigade. He still doesn’t mention what gate?

me, or your own eyes reading Peter Firkins? Herodotus got stuff second hand, years after the fact, and is known to be in error, yet his accounts are often accepted by modern historians.

As for gates: w/o looking, there were nine possible predominate-historic gates into Damascus and since everyone was moving rapidly forward from the direction of the Golan, a possible clue is the gate(s) facing that direction perhaps.

History contains so much "Fiasco," along with a "Gamble" on what to believe? : )

Yes, you are correct Allenby entered that gate. . .however, double check where the Jaffa Gate, or David's Gate, if you prefer, is located, as per the question? : )

Kamerad!

Jeremiah Wright said that? Who's Nebuchadnezzar, some Chicago community leader?

BTW, I've heard nothing lately from the triumphant forces of Good and Sunshine in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. No purges, no retribution for joining the wrong side. I guess all the reasons for unrest have been taken care of-the police have learned their lesson and treat all Citizens with deference and respect, college graduates are all employed due to the new govts opening the National Strategic Job Reserve, etc. Either that, or our modern-day John Reeds and Herbert Matthews' are avoiding asking their pets uncomfortable questions and avoiding looking at things that shouldn't be looked at...nah, it couldn't be.