Foiled Again

Generally speaking, Syria's soldiers are no great shakes at fighting. But they're a persistent lot when it comes to overthrowing the government at home. No fewer than ten attempted coups have taken place in 13 years. One group of officers has plotted steadily for more than two years. Led by Colonel Abdel Karim Nahlawi, 39, the military malcontents were in on the coup that severed Syria's union with Egypt. Last March, they tried to take over the government, but were packed off as military attaches in Syrian embassies abroad.

Last week the officers were up to their old tricks again. Incensed by a Damascus decree stripping them of their army status, the group arranged a dramatic rendezvous in Turkey, then quietly crossed the frontier and made for their old barracks inside Syria. Greeted joyously by some of their former comrades in arms, Nahlawi's men issued a public demand that their discharges be canceled, and that a new general staff to their liking be put in power. To confuse things, the rebellious soldiers insisted on a plebiscite to decide on closer relations with Nasser's Egypt. Otherwise, Nahlawi threatened, troops under his control would march on Damascus.

For President Nazem El-Koudsi, it was an old familiar tune. Coolly, he played for time, agreed to "consider" the demands if Nahlawi would negotiate at army headquarters. The talks dragged on for three crisis-filled days. Then, Koudsi mobilized his own forces, one night suddenly surrounded the army GHQ with armored cars. Colonel Nahlawi got the point. In another country, he and his men might have been jailed, or even executed for treason. But Koudsi, who keeps a prepared resignation in his desk just in case the soldiers should some day win, chose not to push his luck. Escorted aboard an airliner and given $1,000 apiece to cover their expenses, the rebels were sent back to diplomatic posts--in civvies.

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