I am Mustafa Abdul Qadir Tlass, born on the 11th of May in 1932 in the vibrant town of Rastan, nestled near the historic city of Homs in Syria. Throughout my tenure, I had the honor of serving as Syria's Minister of Defense from 1972 until 2004, a period marked by unwavering dedication to my nation and its people. My roots trace back to a distinguished Sunni Muslim family, with a rich tapestry of ancestral ties that span Circassian and Turkish heritage. It is with great pride that I recount my early years of education in Homs and my commitment to the Ba'ath Party from the youthful age of 15. These experiences, coupled with my interactions with notable figures such as Hafez al-Assad, have molded my trajectory and convictions.